Collegiate House

An assessment has been undertaken of a specialist service that is used by autistic people or people with a learning disability. We have assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. The service was meeting the principles of Right support, right care, right culture’.

The service demonstrated an outstanding person-centred approach, with a strong culture of learning, continuous improvement, and partnership working. Staff used detailed analysis of incidents and behaviours to develop tailored support strategies, resulting in significant improvements in people's well-being, independence, social inclusion, and quality of life.

People were safeguarded by a positive and open culture where they felt safe and well supported. Risk management was highly personalised, promoting independence while reducing harm through innovative approaches, proactive interventions, and close collaboration with families and professionals.

The service provided safe transitions, maintained detailed and effective care records, and was highly regarded by external professionals. People benefited from a stable, skilled staff team, comprehensive training, and strong leadership that promoted high-quality care and staff development.

The environment was safe, well maintained, and adapted to meet individual needs, while infection prevention measures were robust. Medicines were managed exceptionally well, with regular reviews helping to reduce unnecessary medication and improve people's well-being and independence.

The service provided highly personalised, effective care that was regularly reviewed and adapted to meet people's changing needs, preferences and goals. People and families were actively involved in care planning, and detailed records supported staff to deliver consistent, person-centred support that promoted choice, independence and wellbeing.

Care was delivered in line with evidence-based practice, with strong involvement from healthcare professionals and specialist services. Staff worked proactively to address health needs, followed professional guidance, and received specialist training to ensure people achieved positive outcomes while reducing restrictive practices.

There was a strong culture of teamwork and partnership working. Staff, families and professionals collaborated effectively to ensure coordinated, holistic care, helping people access specialist support and achieve meaningful improvements in communication, health and emotional well-being.

People were supported to live healthier lives through personalised health promotion, increased access to healthcare, healthy lifestyle initiatives, physical activities and ongoing support with areas such as weight management and oral health. This resulted in measurable improvements in both physical and mental well-being.

The provider had effective systems to monitor progress and outcomes, with people making positive achievements in areas including independence, health, community participation and personal goals. People's rights, choices and consent were consistently respected, with staff using creative and accessible approaches to support decision-making and uphold independence, dignity and control over their lives.

Staff delivered highly personalised, responsive care that was tailored to people's individual needs, preferences, goals and aspirations. Staff knew people exceptionally well and supported them to live meaningful lives through a wide range of activities, education, employment opportunities and community involvement, while ensuring people remained in control of decisions about their daily lives.

Care was well coordinated and regularly reviewed with people, families and professionals to ensure support remained effective and responsive to changing needs. Strong communication systems, detailed care planning and accessible information enabled people to make informed choices, express their views and actively participate in decisions about their care.

The provider actively listened to feedback from people and used it to make meaningful improvements to both the service and individuals' quality of life. People were empowered through advocacy, involvement in recruitment, regular reviews and opportunities to influence how the service operated.

Staff worked proactively to remove barriers and promote equality, inclusion and access to healthcare, education, employment and community opportunities. People were supported to develop relationships, maintain community connections, explore their identities and achieve outcomes that were important to them.

The service was exceptionally well led, with strong, visible and supportive leadership that promoted a positive, person-centred culture. Staff felt valued, respected and well supported, with high morale, effective teamwork and a shared commitment to delivering outstanding outcomes for people.

Leaders were approachable, knowledgeable and highly regarded by people, relatives and staff. They maintained strong oversight of the service, promoted open communication and created an environment where everyone felt comfortable raising ideas, concerns and feedback. This openness contributed to a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.

The provider demonstrated a strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring both people and staff were treated fairly and supported to achieve their full potential. Staff described an inclusive workplace where they felt respected, listened to and empowered.

Governance arrangements were highly effective, with comprehensive auditing, quality assurance and performance monitoring systems used to maintain high standards and drive service improvements. Leaders used feedback, reviews, incidents and outcomes data to identify learning opportunities and improve people's experiences and quality of life.

Partnership working was a key strength, with excellent relationships maintained with families, professionals and community organisations. These partnerships helped people access meaningful opportunities, build relationships, stay connected to their communities and achieve positive outcomes.

The service also demonstrated a strong culture of learning, innovation and continuous development. Quality improvement activities consistently focused on enhancing people's independence, wellbeing and quality of life, ensuring care remained responsive, person-centred and outcome focused.