Alderwood LLA Addington Road is a small residential care home for four people with learning disabilities and autism. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service is based in a residential area and is designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

This inspection took place on 31 August 2018 and was the first inspection of the service since they registered with the CQC in July 2017. At the time of our inspection, the provider confirmed they were providing care to four people.

The service had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The ethos at Alderwood LLA Addington Road was based on providing a family type setting for all adults, whilst supporting their needs through structured education and living. Without exception all the relatives spoken with were extremely pleased with the individualised care and support their family members received at the service.

Without exception all people using the service received personalised care that was extremely responsive to their individual needs. The ethos of the service ensured that all people and their relatives were fully involved in their care. Staff had an excellent understanding of all the people using the service. They worked as a close team and were driven in providing person centred support to enable people to achieve as much independence as possible.

The registered manager and the managing director were very involved in the care of people using the service. The Alderwood organisation was a bronze member of the British Institute for Learning Disabilities (BILD). The provider was committed to championing human rights to enable people with learning disabilities and complex needs to be empowered to live the life they choose. The provider had also participated in the (STOMP) initiative, which is aimed at stopping the over medication of people with a learning disability, autism or both.

All staff had the opportunity to develop at their own pace. Alderwood valued the commitment of its staff team and recognised the qualities and skills of staff to provide career progression within the organisation. The staff team met each person’s complex communication needs through using extensive communication tools. They used visual aids to help people on the autism spectrum better understand communication, interpersonal skills and processes. These assisted people to express their feelings and re-enforce positive behaviours and de-escalate negative behaviours.

The staff were extremely dedicated to helping people to achieve their potential. Every opportunity was sought to enhance people’s life experience. The Alderwood organisation had a personalised and innovative approach to supporting people through activities, education and work. The service had established strong links with resource centres for people with a learning disability and relatives were passionate about the quality of the care that was provided to their family members, the progress for their family members, and the unique nature of the service.

People’s support plans were extremely person centred and fully reflected their individuality, people were supported to set goals and targets that were achievable. An equality, diversity and human rights approac