First Thought Care Services

During an assessment under our new approach

Date of assessment 14 March to 20 April 2024. This was a responsive assessment to follow up on concerns about the provider's registration which may have placed people who receive the regulated activity of personal care at risk of receiving inappropriate care. At this assessment, we found people received good quality of care and staff understood people's communication needs. People were supported to have choice over their lives; enjoy hobbies and maintain contact with their families. Staff promoted equality in how they supported people. They spoke about supporting people without discrimination and to live a life of their choice. People were encouraged to maintain their well-being and overcome barriers to access health care services. Managers worked directly with people and staff; providing them with support and leading by example. People were supported to maintain their home and understand their tenancy agreements; however we found the provider had not always assured people's accommodation was being provided in line with their CQC registration. This was raised with the provider and the commissioners to enable them to address our concerns about the autonomy of one person's accommodation and the registration of the provider's respite services. 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.

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