Supporting Independence - Findon

Staff provided support to 13 people across two locations. There were three people who were receiving the regulated activity of personal care, this was across both settings, Ivy Cottage in Findon and Mortimer House in Littlehampton. The service also supported two people with outreach support in their own homes, they did not receive the regulated activity of personal care so have not been included within this report.

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.

People told us they felt safe with regards to their daily living and also with the Covid-19 pandemic. People told us that staff had supported them to understand the risks around Covid-19 and how they can make sure they stay safe when out, now that some restrictions have been lifted by the government.

Overall risk had been managed appropriately for people and risk assessments in place around each person's identified needs. We did find a concern with the assessment process for one person who moved into the service during the Covid-19 pandemic. We found that communication had slipped between the provider and external services to ensure the placement was fully risk assessed and appropriate for the person. The registered manager was open and honest about this process and stated lessons had been learnt from it to ensure future placements are fully assessed prior to commencing. We did not find any concern with the other pre assessments for people prior to living at the services.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control over 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.

People were observed to have positive and supportive interactions with staff. The atmosphere at both Ivy Cottage and Mortimer house was happy with people smiling and laughing with staff. People seemed to have developed good positive relationships with staff and people did not appear to be cautious or uneasy in the presence of staff including managers.

People could access healthcare professional involvement when needed. Where people had accidents and incidents staff responded to these and the registered manager and management team reviewed all incidents to identify any triggers or causes to help reduce reoccurrence. Staff told us they felt they received good feedback in relation to incidents and could discuss how to assess and monitor risk.

Staff said they were happy working for the provider. Staff did indicate there had been some confusion with regards to the management changes across the service, but this had improved recently, and staff gave glowing feedback for the new managers who had been recruited to join the team.

The registered manager had made improvements towards developing a positive culture within the service. Staff reported a change in atmosphere since these had been implemented which included recruiting new staff and making the management structure clearer to staff. The registered manager was open and honest about where things had gone wrong. They acknowledged there had been a period of unsettlement during Covid-19 and new staff and management changes but felt things had improved, which was supported by the staff we spoke to during the inspection.