About the service: Autism Care UK (Bedford) is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to nine people with learning disabilities and autism. At the time of inspection, nine people were using the service. The service consisted of both bedrooms, and self-contained flats, which had their own kitchen and bathroom areas. Communal areas were also available for people to use.

The care service had not originally been developed and 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. However, people were given choices and their independence and participation within the local community encouraged.

People’s experience of using this service: People continued to receive safe care. Staff understood safeguarding procedures that should be followed to report abuse and incidents of concern. Risk assessments were in place to manage risks within people’s lives, whilst also promoting their independence.

Staff recruitment procedures ensured that appropriate pre-employment checks were carried out. Staffing support matched the level of assessed needs within the service during our inspection.

Staff training was provided to ensure they had the skills, knowledge and support they needed to perform their roles. Specialist training was provided to make sure that people’s needs were met and they were supported effectively.

Staff were well supported by the manager, and had one to one supervisions. The staff we spoke with were all positive about the senior staff and management in place.

People's consent was gained before any care was provided. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice

Staff continued to treat people with kindness, dignity and respect and spent time getting to know them. Care plans reflected people’s likes and dislikes, and staff spoke with people in a friendly manner.

People were involved in their own care planning and were able to contribute to the way in which they were supported. People and their family were involved in reviewing their care and making any necessary changes.

A process was in place which ensured people could raise any complaints or concerns. Concerns were acted upon promptly and lessons were learned through positive communication.

The service continued to be well managed. The provider had systems in place to monitor the quality of the service. Actions were taken and improvements were made when required.

Rating at last inspection: Good (report published 17/06/2016)

Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection. The service remained rated Good overall.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.

This inspection took place on 4 May 2016 and was unannounced.

The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.

Autism Care UK (Bedford) provides accommodation and personal care for up to nine people. The service supports people of a variety of ages, who have autism and learning disabilities. The service has a mix of self-contained flats and en-suite rooms.

At the time of inspection, eight people were living at the service.

There was a registered manager in post. 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.

People felt safe. Staff had an understanding of abuse and the safeguarding procedures that should be followed to report abuse.

People had risk assessments in place to enable them to be as independent as they could be.

There were sufficient numbers of staff available to meet people’s care and support needs

Effective recruitment processes were in place and followed by the service.

Medicines were stored, handled and administered safely within the service.

Staff members all had induction training when joining the service, as well as regular ongoing training.

Staff were well supported by the manager and had regular one to one time.

People’s consent was gained before any care was provided and the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and associated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards were met.

People were able to choose the food and drink they had and staff were able to support people with this.

People were supported to access health appointments when necessary, including doctors, dentists and speech therapists.

The staff supported people in a caring manner. They knew the people they were supporting well.

Where possible, people were involved in their own care planning and were able to contribute to the way in which they were supported.

People’s privacy and dignity was maintained at all times.

People were supported to take part in a range of activities and social interests.

The service had a complaints procedure in place and people knew how to use it.

Quality monitoring systems and processes were used effectively to drive future improvement and identify where action needed to be taken.

The Inspection took place on 4 November 2015 and was unannounced.

Autism Care UK (Bedford) provides accommodation and personal care for up to nine people. The service supports people of a variety of ages, who have autism and learning disabilities. The service has a mix of self-contained flats and en-suite rooms. At the time of inspection, seven people were living at the service.

There was a registered manager in post. 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.

People felt safe. Staff had an understanding of abuse and the safeguarding procedures that should be followed to report abuse.

People had risk assessments in place to enable them to be as independent as they could be.

There were sufficient numbers of staff available to meet people’s care and support needs

Effective recruitment processes were in place and followed by the service.

Medicines were stored, handled and administered safely within the service.

Staff members all had induction training when joining the service, as well as regular ongoing training.

Staff were well supported by the manager and had regular one to one time.

People’s consent was gained before any care was provided and the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and associated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards were met.

People were able to choose the food and drink they had and staff were able to support people with this.

People were supported to access health appointments when necessary, including doctors, dentists and speech therapists.

The staff supported people in a caring manner. They knew the people they were supporting well.

Where possible, people were involved in their own care planning and were able to contribute to the way in which they were supported.

People’s privacy and dignity was maintained at all times.

People were supported to take part in a range of activities and social interests.

The service had a complaints procedure in place and people knew how to use it.

Quality monitoring systems and processes were used effectively to drive future improvement and identify where action needed to be taken.