Creative Support - High Street

The service is a single storey bungalow. There are six individual bedrooms, shared bathroom facilities, a shared kitchen, lounge and garden area. The office is located within the service.

The service has not been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These are principles that ensure people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best 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 did not receive planned and co-ordinated person- centred support that was appropriate and inclusive for them.

The service was no bigger than most domestic style properties. It was registered for the support of up to six people. The service was designed prior to building the right support guidance and the provider only took over the service in 2019. However, signs that deliberately identify the service as a care home had not been considered. These included things such as signs at the entrance gate asking for visitors to ring the bell and wait for staff. Industrial bins for various types of hazardous and non-hazardous waste were located at the front of the house and visible from the street. This did not promote people's dignity and respect of their environment.

The ability for people to participate in activities of their choice and a time of their choosing was severely limited by the poor staffing levels. People were only able to go out for around four hours once a week when supported by an external company provided by the council.

People were not supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff did not support them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service did not support this practice. People's rights were not consistently considered and consent for some areas of their life not always sought.

The service didn't always (consistently) apply the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. The outcomes for people did not fully reflect the principles and values of Registering the Right Support for the following reasons, there was inconsistent evidence that people had choice and control. People were not supported to live as independently as possible and there was a lack of social inclusion.

People told us they felt safe and were happy living at the service. People were able to access all areas of the service freely. Staff had a good understanding of how to keep people safe.

People were able to access various health and social care professionals as required. People were supported safely with their medicines.

Staff supported and treated people well and with kindness. Staff had a good knowledge of people's needs, likes and dislikes and knew people well. People told us they would complain to the staff or the registered manager if they were upset or treated badly.

People had access to a variety of food and drink and told us they helped to prepare meals and clean up afterwards.

People who used different methods to communicate were supported to do so and staff all understood how to do this.

We have made a recommendation about ensuring people's care records are current, correct and up to date. We have also made a recommendation about ensuring rubbish, furniture and other items are not stored in and around the service.