Mencap - Portland Services

Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of our inspection 10 people were receiving care and support.

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.

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.

People continued to benefit from an exceptionally well-led service that provided outstanding care. People were at the heart of the service and its values, which were person centred and focussed on supporting people to achieve what they wanted in life. All staff were passionate about providing flexible person-centred support to people when they needed it.

People's needs, and wishes were met by staff who knew them well. We saw and were told of many examples of staff going 'above and beyond' to help and support people they cared for.

The feedback from people and their families was overwhelmingly positive with a consistent theme that people felt cared for and this was more than just a job to the staff. People were at the heart of everything. Their support was tailored specifically to their needs and staff went the 'extra mile' to ensure people were in control of their lives.

People were treated as individuals and were valued and respected. The staff ensured that people's privacy and dignity was protected and spent time getting to know people. Staff worked creatively with people to

maximise their independence.

Staff received the training they needed to provide people's support appropriately and safely. The management team were proactive about sourcing additional training that staff needed to meet people's needs. Staff took part in regular supervision and were valued for their individuality and what they could bring to deliver high quality care.

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.

The management team led by example and ensured that they recruited staff who shared their ethos of providing good quality of care. They actively sought feedback from people, their families and staff to continually look at ways to improve the service and were receptive to ideas and suggestions.

The systems in place to monitor the quality and performance of the service were highly effective and the provider was quick to address any shortfalls identified. People could be assured that they were cared for by a well-motivated staff team who were well managed.