Autism Together - 32 York Street

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.

The service was registered for the support of up to two people and two people were using the service. The building design fitted into the residential area and the other large domestic homes of a similar size. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

We observed positive, friendly interactions between people and staff. People were treated with respect, dignity and kindness.

Person centered support plans were detailed and guided staff about people's needs and how to meet them. Staff supported people to make choices and decisions relating to their care and to live their lives as they wished. People's risks were identified and assessed appropriately. People and their relatives were involved in regular reviews of their care and encouraged to offer feedback.

People were supported to maintain a healthy diet and had access to healthcare professionals should they

need them.

Medicines were managed safely and staff had the appropriate training to support people effectively.

The provider had systems in place to ensure that people were protected from the risk of harm or abuse. We saw there were policies and procedures in place to guide staff in relation to safeguarding adults and whistleblowing.

There were sufficient staff to meet people's needs and to enable them to engage with activities, access the community and to live their lives as independently as possible. Staff suitability to work with people was checked at recruitment. Staff completed a robust induction process, attended training and received regular supervisions to be able to provide effective support for people.

People were asked for their feedback about the service through house meetings and giving feedback to staff. A range of quality assurance systems measured and monitored the quality of care and the service overall.