Henshaws Specialist College

At the time of this inspection, there were 34 young people accommodated in four residential houses. Another 14 young people were receiving registered healthcare provision as day students.

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.

Careful pre-admission assessments and planning made sure young people's care needs including healthcare and behaviour needs were fully considered. Staff received relevant training and could meet these needs effectively. The hospital learning disability liaison nurse was also made aware of new admissions, so in the case of hospital treatment they could help organise their care. This had led young people to having more positive experiences when medical treatment was required.

Thorough risk management processes focused on people's abilities and how staff could support them to try new things safely. This had led young people with very complex needs to achieve goals for the first time, including sailing, kayaking and rock climbing. In their written feedback about a recent trip, one young person had said, "I loved it. I like the zip wire the best." Other young people had begun new enterprises and were looking at their future plans on graduation.

Staffing was organised around people's assessed care needs and staff were recruited safely. Feedback about staff was positive. People said staff were caring and compassionate. One young person said, "Staff are lovely, they care for me." Relatives told us, and we observed, people were treated with dignity and respect, and staff promoted young people's independence.

The service was well-managed and organised. Effective management systems were in place for managers to assess and monitor the quality of care provided to young people and drive continuous improvement. Managers and staff were highly motivated to develop the service and provide young people with the best care possible.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensured young people who used the service lived as full a life as possible and achieved the best possible outcomes that included control, choice and independence.

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.