Ashurst House

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture. The leadership team had developed a culture centred around people's preferences and goals. Staff were flexible to people's changing needs and wishes and supported them to make informed decisions. Staff actively asked people for their views on all areas of the service, including their care and support, and these were acted on. People had privacy, held keys to their bedrooms and staff only entered their room with permission. Staff ensured people were treated with dignity and respect at all times. They were confident to challenge the practice of their colleagues and raise any concerns they had with the leadership team.

People were relaxed in the company of each other and staff and people no longer felt scared of each other. Staff had supported people to understand the risks of abuse and how to raise any concerns they had. Concerns raised had been acted on and people were confident action taken would keep them safe in the future.

People were supported to take positive risks to develop their skills and maintain their independence, such as making hot drinks and going out alone. Staff had supported people to have health and medicine reviews and any advice was followed. This had improved peoples' quality of life and people were more independent.

Recruitment processes had improved and people were now involved in interviewing staff. Something they told us they enjoyed. The number of staff on shift each day had increased and this enabled people to go out more, as well as doing more at home. Staff worked well as a team, were motivated and felt appreciated. New staff told us they had a career path and were supported to develop in their role.

Medicines were now managed safely, and people received their medicines as prescribed. Regular medicines audits were completed to identify and address any errors. Other audits had been effective, and action had been taken to resolve any shortfalls and stop them happening again.

The service was clean. People understood COVID-19 restrictions and were supported to follow the latest government guidance. They received visitors safely and were supported to remain as safe as possible when they went out. People were involved in household tasks such as cleaning their bedrooms and doing their laundry.