Step by Step Supporting Independence Ltd

Step by Step Supporting Independence Ltd provides other services which help people to live independently, such as assistance with shopping and enabling people to undertake activities in the community. There is a log cabin facility in the grounds of its offices where staff support people with planned activities. People can also socialise with other people and staff in this area. For example, one person had recently enjoyed a big birthday party held in the log cabin.

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 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.

Staff received safeguarding training so they knew how to recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse and how to report any concerns of abuse. Risk management plans were in place to protect and promote people's safety. Staffing arrangements were suitable to keep people safe. Staff recruitment practices ensured staff were suitable to work with people. Staff followed infection control procedures to reduce the risks of spreading infection or illness.

The provider understood their responsibility to comply with the Accessible Information Standard (AIS), which came into force in August 2016.

Staff received induction training when they first started work at the service. On-going refresher training ensured staff were able to provide care and support for people following current practice.

Where the provider took on the responsibility, staff supported people to eat and drink sufficient amounts to maintain a varied and balanced diet. Staff supported people to access health appointments when required, including opticians and doctors, to make sure they received continuing healthcare to meet their needs.

People had their diverse needs assessed, they had positive relationships with staff and received care in line best practice meeting people's personal preferences. Staff consistently provided people with respectful and compassionate care.

The service had a positive ethos and an open culture. The registered managers were visible role models in the service. People, their relatives and other professionals told us that they had confidence in the managers' abilities to provide consistently good quality managerial oversight and leadership.