First Thought Care Services

This is the first assessment for this newly registered service. Therefore, we assessed all quality statements across the safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led key questions under the provider’s new registered location. As a result of our assessment, we rated the service good.

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.

We found for some people, the service did not fully apply the principles of the ‘Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture guidance, and the Real Tenancy Test, which is the guidance CQC follows to ensure that people in supported living arrangements have genuine human and tenancy rights. The building's design required both adults and children to use the same entrance in the reception area, which restricted people accessing their home on the top floor in order to enhance safety for everyone using the building.

However, First Thought Care demonstrated exceptional practice in supporting people to live a meaningful life of their choice. People had been supported to increase their communication skills, confidence and to pursue new hobbies and activities. A balanced positive risk-taking approach had been applied which was consistently reviewed to help people succeed. Staff had dedicated time to help build people’s trust in them. They had been supported to learn new skills, increase their levels of independence and to develop routines based on their wishes and sensory needs.

The development and well-being of staff was also a priority for the provider. Staff told us they felt trained and supported and was confident in the management and the culture of the service.

The provider valued feedback from all stakeholders to help drive improvement across the service. Some discrepancies and recording concerns were found during the assessment which were acted on immediately.