Creative Support - The Glade

Risk assessments had been completed to guide staff how to support people safely, however these were not always followed in practice. There had been a large change in the staff team, and this had impacted on people's lived experiences at the service.

Clinical waste bins were not stored appropriately which may lead to an infection control risk. Other infection control measures were effective in helping keep people safe.

People were not always supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff did not always support them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service did not always support this practice. We have made a recommendation to the service around reviewing mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions to ensure they follow best practice guidance.

Audits were effective in picking up where improvements were needed in areas such as health and safety checks or medication. However, they had failed to pick up on areas for improvement we identified at this inspection. We were not assured that best practice guidance was being followed at the service in relation to Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture. Relatives gave us mixed feedback about how the registered manager and staff engaged with them.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people. The service was not able to demonstrate how they were meeting some of the underpinning principles of Right support, Right care, Right culture.

People were at risk of social isolation due to staff not being able to drive vehicles and the location the service being far away from areas of interest and local amenities. Some people living at the service, visibly were not happy living with other people using the service. Opportunities for people to leave the service and take part in preferred past times was limited. Staff did not support people to take part in their preferred past times whilst they were at home.

Despite our findings people and relatives were happy with their care and support. One relative said, ''I think The Glade is the perfect place for [family member] and I have no concerns that they are well cared for.''

Staff were trained in safeguarding and knew how to keep people safe. Staff were recruited safely and there were enough staff to support people with their support needs. People were supported safely with their medicines. Health professionals supported people if this was needed and staff worked well with them. Staff supported people to eat and drink according to their support needs and their preferences.

People told us that staff were kind and compassionate and we observed people were relaxed whilst being supported by staff. Staff offered people choices in some aspects of their lives and communicated with people in ways that made sense to them. There was a complaints procedure that people had access to if they needed to use it. Plans had been discussed with people about the support they would like at the end of their life.

The registered manager and service director were passionate about supporting people. They were keen to put improvements in place following this inspection. People were positive about the management of the service and the way they were supported. Staff worked with health professionals and other services to help ensure good outcomes for people.