3 Red Admiral Court Gateshead

The registered manager had an effective quality and assurance system in place which allowed them to monitor and improve the quality and safety of the care provided. People, relatives and staff were asked for feedback to help improve the care provided. Lessons learned from incidents were also used to improve the service provided.

People and relatives were involved in every stage of their care planning and took part in regular reviews of their support needs. People told us they had key workers and talked through what they needed and what was important to them.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

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 able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture. Staff at all levels respected people's preferences and individualities. They took proactive steps to learn about people's past history, goals and ambitions to better enable them to care for people. This led to positive health and wellbeing outcomes for people, particularly reductions in anxiety and the development of new friendships and interests.

All staff ensured people living at the service had extremely engaging sociable lives. The registered manager and staff found ways to ensure people were positively engaged; their independence was promoted, and their passions and interests maintained wherever possible.

Medicines were safely managed and in line with best practice guidance. Risks to people had been fully assessed and mitigated to help keep people safe. People's care plans were individual and included involvement from other healthcare professionals. The environment was safe and homely.

Staff were supported with regular supervisions, team meetings, learning sessions and appraisals. Staff were safely recruited and received a comprehensive induction from the provider. Training was effectively monitored, and refresher training was provided on a rolling basis.