COMPANY that supports people in Cornwall with a learning disability and those who are autistic has received an outstanding rating.

United Support Services has been given the rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following an inspection.

The supported living service has its offices at Station Approach in Victoria, near Roche.

The inspection assessed whether the service guaranteed autistic people and people with a learning disability the respect, equality, dignity, choice, independence and access to local communities that most people take for granted. 

The CQC has rated how safe, effective and well-led the service is as outstanding, and how caring and responsive it is as good.

Stefan Kallee, CQC deputy director of adult social care in Cornwall, said: “During our inspection, it was clear that United Support Services put delivering person-centred care at the heart of everything it did.

“Leaders had built a culture where staff felt trusted and empowered, and this filtered through into the way they supported people every day.

“What stood out most was the impact this had on people’s lives. Many of the people supported by the service had previously lived in settings where their choices were limited, which had left them frustrated and, at times, distressed. Since receiving support from United Support Services, staff had taken the time to understand what mattered to each person and had gradually built the trust needed to give them more control over their daily lives.

“One person showed inspectors around their home which they were very proud of, highlighting the level of comfort they felt in their own space. Some people had been unable to leave their home safely but were now going out into their community with confidence. People who’d found health appointments too frightening to attend were now having regular checks, which showed us that the service was truly listening to and understanding the people it supports.

“We also saw staff help people build skills and try new things. One person who’d never taken part in their own food shopping was now managing the whole process themselves, from choosing items to putting them away. We know from experience that this thoughtful and patient work can make a big difference to someone’s confidence and independence.

“Leaders and staff at United Support Services should be extremely proud of what they’ve achieved.”

Inspectors found:

• Staff used tailored tools such as pictures, objects of reference and easy read information to help people understand what was happening and take part in decisions about their own care.

• Leaders analysed data and incidents to spot patterns early, which helped staff adapt their approach and led to a significant fall in the number of times people became distressed.

• The service helped people move from more restrictive settings into their own homes, planning transitions carefully.

• Leaders arranged for people to keep working with staff they already knew and trusted when they moved between services.

• Leaders worked with health professionals to reduce people’s reliance on medicines used to manage behaviour.

• Staff completed specialist training which helped them understand and respond to people’s individual needs.