Merrivale Farm

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People's individual care needs were assessed and reviewed to achieve positive outcomes for them. Staff received training and ongoing management support to enable them to work safely and effectively. People were involved in decisions about what they ate and drank, and they helped to produce the home's weekly menus. Staff and management worked in partnership with a range of community health and social care professionals to ensure people's care needs were met. People had the support they needed to attend medical appointments and routine health check-ups. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Staff treated people with kindness and compassion, and were committed to people's continued happiness and wellbeing. People were encouraged to express their views about their care, and these were listened to and acted on. People's rights to privacy, dignity and independence were understood and promoted by staff. Staff recognised the need to avoid any form of discrimination in planning and delivering people's care.

People received personalised care and support from staff who knew them well. People's care plans were individual to them, and staff confirmed they read and followed these. People had support to participate in a range of social and recreational activities, based around their interests and preferences. People and their relatives knew how to raise any concerns or complaints with the management team. People's wishes and choices about their end of life care were explored with them.

The management team promoted a positive and inclusive culture within the service, based upon open communication with others. People, their relatives and community professionals had confidence in the management of the service. Staff felt well-supported and valued by the management team. The provider had quality assurance systems and processes in place to enable them to monitor and address the quality and safety of people's care.