Royal Mencap Society - Central Hampshire

The service provides support for people with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. We have assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. People were supported in accordance with this guidance. They took action in response to our inspection feedback.

The provider worked to continuously improve the service and ensure good outcomes for people. Audits were in place giving oversight of quality and risk concerns. However, these had not identified some recruitment practices, training records and policies needed improvement. The provider started making improvements during our assessment. The provider made available suitable mandatory training for staff. Medicines were administered appropriately where required by competent staff.

There was a positive learning culture, where the provider was proactive in seeking feedback and implementing learning to make improvements. People and their relatives knew how to give feedback and were confident the provider took it seriously and acted on it. People were protected and kept safe from abuse. Staff were happy to raise any safety concerns and felt they would be dealt with properly. There were enough staff in place.

People and relatives were consulted around how they wished their care to be carried out where possible. Although not all relatives we spoke with had been involved in people’s care and support plans. Staff understood and managed risks related to people’s care. Staff worked with stakeholders involved in people’s care to promote the best outcomes and safe transitions when people moved between services. Staff cared for people with dignity and respect and promoted their independence. People were treated with kindness and compassion and had a good level of consistency in care staff.

Leaders were visible and supportive, helping staff develop in their roles. There was a registered manager in place at the time of the inspection. Staff felt able to give feedback and were treated equally. The provider worked with professionals in the local community to deliver high quality care.

At our last assessment the service was in breach of the legal regulations in relation to safe care and treatment, good governance and the submission of statutory notifications. At this assessment the service had improved sufficiently and is no longer in breach of these regulations.