Personal Assistant Services North

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible 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 receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

Recent changes within the staff team meant at times the service had to use agency staff to ensure people received their commissioned service. This was managed with little impact to people using the service although some staff felt at times this had placed an additional pressure on them. People were safe using the service, risks were identified and responded to. Staff felt a commitment to the people they supported and understood the importance of reporting any concerns to the appropriate professionals.

Staff worked proactively with health and social care professionals which helped ensure the support provided was in line with best practice. People were supported to be healthy, this included supporting people to manage their weight or accessing health care services. Staff spoke positively of the training provided and the additional support given by the provider to make sure they could meet people's needs. 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.

Staff were kind caring and supportive. Many had worked for the service for a long time and staff demonstrated a commitment to ensuring people received a good service and were treated well. Staff understood the importance of supporting people to have a say in their day to day support and enabled people to make decisions about this.

People received personalised care that met their needs and preferences. The support provided and the associated care plans were continually reviewed and updated. People's communication needs were assessed and staff utilised various communication aids to support people's communication. The service's main aim was to encourage and engage people in their community, activities, work, and promote their independence. People were supported to engage in various activities that were of interest to them. The service had received no recent complaints. Relatives of people using the service told us they felt able to raise concerns if necessary and team managers were quick to resolve minor issues.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.