ROC Support Network

Children, young people and their families and carers were assisted by a committed, well supported staff team. Staff worked with families to achieve individual goals with children and young people. Their achievements were well documented using photographs put together in scrapbooks so memories could be shared and revisited.

Families were supported by staff who understood how to protect children and young people from harm. Professionals were greatly appreciative of the ability of staff to form working relationships with families which prevented children and young people being subject to child protection procedures and/or requiring foster care. The behaviour of children and young people as described by their parents and carers when the staff arrived, showed they looked forward to their time with the staff and clearly felt very safe with them.

People's assessed needs were effectively met by well-trained staff. Risks to children and young people associated with their care and support had been assessed in great detail. Staff members understood these risks and negotiated with parents around new activities for their children, to enable children and young people to take positive risks, grow and develop.

Children and young people were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive ways possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this approach.

People's privacy and dignity was always supported. Staff ensured children and young people were listened to and their wishes promoted. The service had recently been awarded the Investors In Children gold award. The award is for organisations which support and encourage children and young people to participate in the decisions which affected them. The voices of children and young people were listened to and acted upon.

Staff showed people true compassion and great empathy for families who found themselves in lockdown

with autistic children and young people requiring structure and education at home. Parents were supported to provide the essential routine and structure for their children whilst staff ensured children and young people continued with their learning. Parents described staff as going the extra mile and not being able to function through the pandemic without the staff.

Staff took a person-centred approach to infection, prevention and control by working with families to meet their unique circumstances. Staff were tested in line with government guidance and provided with the required personal protective equipment (PPE).

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

Right support: • Care and support was negotiated in detail with families according to their needs, wishes and personal choices. The support was adapted as needs changed. Parents, carers and siblings of children and young people with autism and learning disabilities derived significant benefits from the service.

Right care: • The well-being of children, young people, their parents and carers was enhanced by the service. Staff went the extra mile to meet people's needs. The service recognised and promoted the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Children and young people were afforded their human rights.

Right culture: • The ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the provider, the managers and care staff ensured children and young were empowered to learn and grow in confidence. Parents, children and families were empowered to achieve their goals.

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.

The service was exceptionally well-led by managers who were very proactive in addressing the needs of staff and the people who used the service. They ensured staff were well supported and competent to carry out their roles. Staff echoed the comments made by one member of staff who said, "I have never worked somewhere that is so passionate about the families they support and the workers." Support of the staff team was of the utmost importance to the managers, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when they had been asked to put themselves at risk.

Governance systems were highly effective. The provider had methods in place to encourage children, young people, their parents and carers to contribute to the service, provide feedback and learn lessons. All feedback was welcomed.

There were excellent working relationships with other professionals who valued the work of the service in supporting families and paid tribute to their skills.