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.About the service
Voyage 694 Pinner Road is registered to provide personal care and accommodation for eight people with a learning disability and autistic people. During the day of our inspection the service provided care and support to seven people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People’s medicines were managed safely. However, we made a recommendation for the provider to seek further guidance around updating people’s medicines care plans and systems when receiving and acting on medicine alerts. Although there was no evidence of poor management of medicines, these improvements would overall provide greater protection to people who received help with taking their medicines. Following the inspection, we received evidence the provider was acting to ensure sound medicines management was practised so that relevant policies and procedures were followed.
People were protected from the risk of harm and abuse. There were effective systems and processes in place to minimise risks to people. Risks had been identified, assessed and reviewed. Care workers knew how to identify and report concerns. They had been recruited safely and showed good knowledge and skills in relevant areas including medicines administration and infection control. They demonstrated dignity, respect and compassion in interactions with people.
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.
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.
Right Support
People were supported to develop skills in order to do things as independently as possible. There was a structure to support a values-led culture. Notably, there was a strong emphasis on inclusion and creating opportunities for people to participate in ordinary activities and improving their personal dignity.
Right Care
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. The service used positive behaviour support approach, which was opposed to restrictive practices.
Right culture
Pinner Road has an open culture enabling people to make informed and safe choices about their lives. Care staff engaged and respected people’s decisions. Relatives spoke positively about Pinner Road and told us that they liked it to be a small home which had a family like atmosphere.
The provider had a range of quality assurance processes, including systems necessary to maintain safe environments. The registered manager and the deputy manager ensured policies and procedures met current legislation and were up to date. Relatives told us they were asked of their views about the quality of the service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update –
The last rating for this service was good (report published 3 March 2020)
Why we inspected
We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support right care right culture. The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received around unsafe treatment of people, poor management of medicines and people’s needs around eating and drinking not being met. A decision was made for us to undertake a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, effective, responsive and well-led only.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.