The Grange provides personal care to up to six people living with autism and/ or a learning disability. People live in their own tenanted properties on the site. Care is provided up to twenty four hours a day as people have complex needs and may have to live with behaviours that can be challenging to themselves and others. The service is operated by Turning Point who have similar projects, care homes and other forms of support around the country.

The care service has 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.

This service provides care and support to people living in a ‘supported living’ setting, so that they can live in their own home as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

This was an announced inspection that took place on 3 November 2017. The service was registered in October 2016 and this was the first inspection.

The service had a registered manager who was suitably qualified and experienced. 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.

Staff had received training on ensuring people were kept free from harm and abuse. They were confident in management dealing with any issues appropriately. Turning Point had a confidential phone line for staff to report any concerns.

Good risk assessments and emergency planning were in place. Accidents and incidents were monitored and analysed and action taken to reduce risks.

We saw that staffing levels were suitable to meet the assessed needs of people in the service. Staff recruitment was thorough with all checks completed before new staff had access to vulnerable people. The organisation had suitable disciplinary procedures in place.

Medicines were appropriately managed. People had their medicines reviewed by their GP and specialist health care providers.

Staff were trained in infection control and supported people in their own environment.

This new staff team had been supported to develop appropriately. Staff were keen to learn and we saw that induction, training and supervision had helped them to give good levels of care and support.

Staff received good levels of training around principles of care in relation to people living with a learning disability and/ or autism. They were trained in specific techniques to support each person. They also had general training on supporting people with behaviours that challenge. Restraint had not been used in this service.

Consent was sought, where possible. The manager and the local authority worked together to ensure the service operated within the Mental Capacity Act 2005. 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.

People were supported to get good health care support from their own GP, specialist nurses and consultants. Staff worked with people to support and encourage them to visit dentists and other health care providers.

Staff supported people to shop, budget and cook. People were helped to take good nutrition and were encouraged to eat healthily

People in the service lived in their own flats that were secure and safe for people living with their particular disorder. Special assistive technology was used to ensure people were as sa