The Lodge

People's experience of using this service: People's support plans contained clear and easy to understand information about their needs and risks and how to support them effectively. Support plans were person centred and contained information about people's preferences, daily routines and what was important to them.

The people in the home were limited in being able to express their needs and wishes verbally, staff had detailed guidance on the behaviours, gestures and body language the person would use to communicate their needs or wishes. Some people used Makaton and others used objects of reference to make their needs known.

Medicines were managed safely and people had access to a range of health and social care professionals in support of their needs.

During our visit, we had no concerns about the support people received and the registered manager and small, consistent staff team were committed to providing a good service.

In June 2017, CQC published best practice guidance called 'Registering the Right Support'. This good practice guidance sets out the values and standards of support expected for services supporting people with a learning disability and or autism. During our visit, we found that the service had not been designed in line with this best practice guidance. The service was situated on the edge of a campus style setting with other services for people who have a learning disability. However, we could see that the service focussed on the values set out in the 'Registering the Right Support' guidance which advocates that people's choice, independence and ability to live as life as ordinary in their own home should be promoted in service delivery.