Longcroft

We assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture.’ This guidance supported judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choice, independence, and access to local communities that most people take for granted. Though there were no autistic people or people with a learning disability who received personal care, we found the service had demonstrated a clear understanding of this guidance and had met the requirements of these principles.

People were supported to be safe and were protected from avoidable harm. Robust systems were in place to help people to manage risks in their day to day lives. People were supported to understand and adhere to any conditions which helped to minimise risks when accessing community activities.

People were supported by enough, safely recruited staff who were skilled and knowledgeable about their roles. Staff received high-quality induction and ongoing training. Staff said they felt safe at work and were well supported by the management team.

The home was safely maintained, all necessary safety checks had been completed in relation to the premises. Infection prevention control risks were safely managed.

People’s needs had been comprehensively assessed to ensure the provider was able to meet their needs and to facilitate safe transitions between services. People were involved in their assessments and in the development of their care plans. Care plans included information and advice from other professionals. Staff had access to care plans and found them informative. People’s care and support plans were reviewed and updated regularly. People could meet with their key worker to discuss their support needs and any other matter that was important to them.

People were supported maintain their health. Staff supported people to access healthcare and promoted healthy life choices. People had been encouraged to review their health needs and to set and achieve better outcomes.

People were consulted and supported to give consent to their care and support. Where people did not have the capacity to make some decisions, they had been supported through the appropriate legal processes including mental capacity assessments, best interest decisions and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). People had access to advocates and told us they could speak to them when they needed to. People told us they felt able to raise any concerns and challenge decisions they did not agree with.

People were supported by kind and compassionate staff who were committed to supporting people to achieve positive outcomes. People told us staff were polite and kind. People were encouraged to make choices and set goals to develop their independence at a pace that suited them best. People’s views were valued by staff and leaders who provided several ways for people to express their views. The provider ensured all staff and leaders felt valued and respected in their roles. Staff praised how well supported they felt.

People received high-quality person-centred care throughout all aspect of their care and support. People were supported by staff to develop and achieve their goals. The activities coordinator worked with people to develop individual and meaningful opportunities for people which reflected their preferences and aspirations. People had been supported to overcome any obstacles they might face to achieve equitable outcomes in relation to their care and support and access to community resources and activities.

The home was overseen by skilled and compassionate leaders who were committed to the organisation’s key values and culture. The registered manager and staff demonstrated inclusivity and respect throughout all aspects of their work. People were encouraged to speak up and raise anything that was important to them. Leaders ensured people had a variety of opportunities to share their views. The registered manager was well supported by the providers senior management team and had maintained good oversight of the quality of care, records and premises. The registered manager and staff team worked in close partnership with other agencies and stakeholders which helped ensure consistent care. The provider and staff team were committed to continuous learning and improvement. They held a gold Investors in People award and were working toward achieving an accredited Enabling Environments award.