Shaftesbury Ashley Place

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.

Staff enabled people to access health social support the community. Staff supported people to make decisions following best practice in decision-making.

Right care People experienced a generally positive quality of care. People and their families told us staff were kind and supportive but there had been times when communication with some agency staff had been difficult. We observed staff respecting people's dignity and ensured people had the right to have their say on their care and support. Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. The service worked with other agencies to do so. People's care, treatment and support plans reflected their range of needs and this promoted their wellbeing. Staff and people worked together to assess risks people might face. Staff encouraged people to take positive risks. For example, the service has a catering kitchen and catering staff.

People who expressed a wish to cook meals are supported to use the kitchen to do so. We were told by the registered manager there were plans to develop the service to improve access to cooking facilities.

Right culture People did generally lead inclusive and empowered lives because of the ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the provider, management and staff. There was mixed understanding or opportunities to apply active support approaches and the registered manager agreed the layout of the building did hinder people's ability to do more daily tasks for themselves. Internal audits had picked up the need for further active support training for staff. Managers and staff clearly tried to deliver person centred support. People told us they were pleased with the support generally but would be happier if the use of agency staff were reduced because sometimes communication could be difficult with some agency staff. People had communication passports and permanent staff knew people well.

There had been a recent change of manager, with the new registered manager in post since September 2022. Some relatives and professionals told us, they had difficulties in communication with managers, some thought the deputy manager was the registered manager. Communication between staff and people and managers and people they work in partnership with is an area for improvement. People received good quality health care, support and treatment because trained staff and specialists could meet their needs. Most staff knew and understood people well but there was a reliance on agency staff who did not always know people well.