Dimensions South Yorkshire (South) Domiciliary Care Office

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. 'Right support, right care, right culture' is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

Where possible, people had choices about their living environment and had made decisions about décor and how their properties were set out. For some people, who were not able to communicate their preferences, staff used what they knew about people to create an environment that they believed would reflect their wishes.

Staff supported people to make decisions following best practice in decision making.

People used their local communities with staff support where required. This included using leisure and social facilities, and participating in work where achievable.

Right Care Staff promoted equality and diversity in their support for people. They understood people's cultural needs and provided culturally appropriate care. Staff engaged with people in a respectful and compassionate manner. One relative described their loved one as "well looked after and happy." Another said: "The team are very caring."

Staff understood how to protect people from abuse. The service worked with other agencies to do so. Staff had received safeguarding training and could describe the principals of it.

People could take part in activities and keep in touch with people who were important to them. They were supported to develop and maintain meaningful friendships and relationships in the wider community. Most of the relatives we spoke with confirmed this.

Right culture Feedback was regularly sought from people, although a small number of relatives told us they did not always feel engaged and felt there was a high turnover of staff and managers. The majority of relatives did not share this view and told us they were as engaged as they wished to be.

Staff and managers ensured the quality and safety of the service had been fully assessed to ensure people were safe. Safe recruitment practices were followed. Staff knew and understood people well. People received good quality care, support and treatment because trained staff and specialists could meet their needs and wishes.