Abacus Healthcare Ltd

“The provider was registered to provide support to people with a learning disability and autistic people. At the time of the assessment, the service was not supporting any autistic people or people with a learning disability, but the provider had regard to ‘Right support, right care, right culture’.”

“The provider had effective systems to monitor risks and help keep people safe from avoidable harm. Staff understood their safeguarding responsibilities and knew how to recognise, report and respond to concerns. Risks associated with people’s care and home environments were assessed, and staff demonstrated a good understanding of how to support people safely while promoting their choice and independence. Medicines, infection prevention and incidents were managed appropriately, with regular monitoring and audits by senior staff providing oversight. People benefited from familiar, suitably trained staff who understood their needs. The registered manager understood the service’s capacity and had considered how it could grow safely and sustainably without compromising quality.”

“People’s needs were assessed before care began and reviewed as their circumstances changed. Staff understood people’s health needs, monitored their wellbeing, and knew when to seek advice or involve healthcare professionals. They received appropriate training, supervision, and competency assessments from senior staff. Some care plans required clearer guidance where staff supported people to monitor aspects of their health. However, staff knowledge helped mitigate these gaps, and there was no evidence people had been placed at increased risk. The registered manager responded positively to feedback and took prompt action to improve the guidance for staff.”

“People told us their care was delivered in a kind, respectful, and person-centred way. Staff promoted people’s privacy and dignity when providing personal care and encouraged them to remain as independent as possible. Staff valued the relationships they developed with people and understood the importance of companionship and social contact. People’s communication, cultural, spiritual, and other individual needs were considered within the care planning process, and the provider understood the importance of providing information in ways people could understand.”

“Care was organised around people’s needs and preferences and was provided by small groups of familiar staff. The provider responded flexibly when people’s circumstances changed, including adjusting care visits and working with other professionals where additional support was required. Some care plans did not fully detail people’s individual routines and preferred ways of receiving personal care. However, staff understood these preferences and provided personalised support in practice. The registered manager was receptive to feedback and told us they would continue developing care plans to ensure they fully reflected people’s needs and preferences. People had opportunities to provide feedback and raise concerns, and there was evidence their views led to changes in how care was provided.”

“We received positive feedback from people, relatives, and staff about the leadership of the service. The registered manager and senior staff were approachable, actively involved in the day-to-day running of the service and understood the needs of people and staff. Effective governance…”