Home care service for people with learning disabilities and autism rated Outstanding

Partners in Support in Stevenage, which offers care and support to adults with severe learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder in their own homes, has been rated Outstanding in all areas by the Care Quality Commission.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found staff at the care agency in Herfordshire were caring and compassionate and people were being provided with safe, responsive, caring, effective and well led care.

The inspection revealed that people had pursued new opportunities, progressed over time, gained new skills and increased their independence.

Staff worked with people in developing social skills, building relationships and learning basic cooking skills and in addition supported people to overcome anxieties about attending events or social gatherings.

Jemima Burnage, CQC’s head of inspection for adult social care in the central region praised Partners in Support for having a “strong person-centred culture” and said: “Everything was based on the needs and wishes of the individual and how those needs and wishes could be recognised, supported and met to give each person the best life they could have”.

She added: “The registered manager had clear visions, values and enthusiasm about how they wished the service to be provided and these values were shared with the whole staff team. Their ethos was ‘To enable people with learning disabilities to determine the life they live and strengthen their community of family and friends.’ Staff had clearly adopted the same ethos and enthusiasm and this showed in the way they cared for people. Confidentiality was respected and independence was promoted.

“The management and staff should be proud of the great service they are providing to ensure people receive the best care possible to suit their specific needs.”

Andrea Sutcliffe, chief inspector of adult social care, said: “The quality of care which our inspectors found here was exceptional and I am very pleased that we can celebrate the service’s achievements.

“An outstanding service is the result of a tremendous amount of hard work and commitment. I would like to thank and congratulate everyone involved.”

Under CQC’s new programme of inspections, all adult social care services are being given a rating according to whether they are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.

A full report of the inspection can be found here http://www.cqc.org.uk/provider/1-101689185

click here for more details or to contact Partners in Support