Reach Ivy Cottage

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. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

People were relaxed around staff and said they received the support they needed. Relatives and friends spoke positively about the home. Comments included "The quality of his care is very good and his needs are well met at Ivy Cottage" and "The care offered at Ivy Cottage is exceptional; it totally fulfils (name of person)'s needs."

A community professional told us "The service is of a good standard and well organised in my experience… feedback requested from them has been very efficient and the staff manage some complex residents very well."

There were enough staff to provide the support people needed. Staff were trained and supervised to make sure they met people's needs effectively. They had been recruited using robust procedures.

People were supported to access healthcare services and their medicines were managed well. People were treated with dignity and respect. Their care plans were detailed and outlined the support they needed. These records were regularly reviewed to make sure they reflected changes to people's circumstances. Written risk assessments were in place to identify and help reduce the likelihood of people experiencing

injury or harm.

The service was managed well. Staff understood their responsibilities and worked together as a team. There were systems to monitor the quality of people's care to make sure it was effective and safe.

The Secretary of State has asked the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to conduct a thematic review and to make recommendations about the use of restrictive interventions in settings that provide care for people with or who might have mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or autism. Thematic reviews look in-depth at specific issues concerning quality of care across the health and social care sectors. They expand our understanding of both good and poor practice and of the potential drivers of improvement.

As part of thematic review, we carried out a survey with the provider at this inspection. This considered whether the service used any restrictive intervention practices (restraint, seclusion and segregation) when supporting people.

The service used positive behaviour support principles to support people in the least restrictive way. Some minor restrictive intervention practice was used as a last resort, in a person-centred way, in line with positive behaviour support principles.