Shaftesbury Brookside House

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 support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties. It was registered for the support of up to 24 people. 20 people were using the service when we inspected. This is larger than current best practice guidance. However, the size of the service having a negative impact on people was mitigated by the building design fitting into the residential area with access to local services and public transport. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.

People were valued and placed at the centre of the service. People were supported to be active in the running of the home.

Staff promoted people's privacy and dignity, enabling them to make choices and have as much control and independence as possible. They had gone the extra mile and used innovation and technology to do this.

The service sought to offer people new experiences, through a wide range of individual activities which were meaningful to them. Staff actively supported people to gain independence and learn life skills. People were encouraged to identify and follow pursuits that interested them.

The environment was warm and homely, and designed to promote the independence and quality of life of the people living there.

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.

Detailed care plans and risk assessments were in place for people using the service and were reviewed and updated regularly.

Staff were well trained, skilled and motivated to deliver a high-quality level of care. Staff had received training tailored to people's individual care needs.

People were supported to maintain good health and had access to healthcare services. Staff worked with a range of health professionals to ensure they knew people's care needs. Medicines were managed safely.

Staffing levels were enough to ensure that people's needs were met. Staff were safely recruited.