Uniq Health Care

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.

Staff supported people with their medicines in a way that promoted safety. The service had not fully implemented procedures to manage controlled drugs safely. This was acted upon during our inspection. We have made a recommendation about this. The service did not consistently act to ensure people were supported in safe, clean and well-maintained environments. We have made a recommendation about fire safety.

The service worked with people to plan for when they experienced periods of distress so that their freedoms were restricted only if there was no alternative. We have made a recommendation about staff training standards about reducing restrictive practices. Staff supported people to play an active role in maintaining their own health and wellbeing.

Staff focused on people's strengths and promoted what they could do, so people had a fulfilling and meaningful everyday life. People were supported by staff to pursue their interests and achieve their aspirations and goals. 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.

Right Care: Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. The service worked well with other agencies to do so. One previous incident was not reported to CQC as required. Management acted to address this during the inspection. We were notified of all other events appropriately.

Staff recruitment checks were not consistently robust to promote safety. Management took immediate action to reduce any potential risk to people. The service had enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people's needs and keep them safe. The service used training to help staff physically disengage from unwanted physical contact from people. National guidance recommends this type of training is usually for administrative staff who do not support people directly. We sign-posted the service to staff training standards.

Staff promoted equality and diversity in their support for people. They understood people's cultural needs and provided culturally appropriate care. People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people's privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to their individual needs.

Right Culture: People led inclusive and empowered lives because of the ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the management and staff. People received good quality care, support and treatment because trained staff and specialists could meet their needs and wishes.

People's quality of life was enhanced by the service's culture of improvement and inclusivity. Staff ensured risks of a closed culture were minimised so that people received support based on transparency, respect and inclusivity. People and those important to them, including advocates, were involved in planning their care.

Staff turnover was very low, which supported people to receive consistent care from staff who knew them well. Staff evaluated the quality of support provided to people, involving the person, their families and other professionals as appropriate.