Overcliffe House

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. 'Right support, right care, right culture' is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

The service gave people care and support in a clean environment, but the décor did not always meet people's expectations. The provider was working with the landlord to make improvements.

Staff enabled people to access specialist health and social care support in the community. However, only half the staff team had received updated training or competency checks in how to administer medicines safely. Staff prepared food and drink to meet people's dietary needs and requirements. Staff supported people to take part in activities and pursue their interests in their local area. They had access to day services provided specifically for autistic people. Staff communicated with people in ways that met their needs and planed for when they may experience periods of distress and anxiety.

Right Care: Information about people's care, treatment and support was easy to access to ensure people's wellbeing was promoted. People received kind and compassionate care from staff who understood and responded to people's individual needs.

People and relatives were positive about the quality of the service. People indicated by the 'thumbs up' sign

that staff gave the support they needed. Relatives said staff were caring and helped ensure people followed a routine that made them feel safe.

People were supported by staff who understood the wide range of strengths, impairments or sensitivities autistic people may have. People who had individual ways of communicating, using body language, sounds, Makaton (a form of sign language) and pictures, could interact comfortably with staff and others involved in their care and support because staff had the necessary skills to understand them.

There were enough staff to meet people's needs and keep them safe. Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse.

Right Culture: Quality assurance and monitoring systems were not always effective in identify shortfalls and improving the service for the people who used it. People's family members were not always fully involved in providing feedback about the service so their views could be acted upon.

People benefitted from the open and positive culture of the service where the management team was approachable and listened and responded to people's views.