Updated 9 September 2025
Date of Assessment: 18 November – 5 December 2025. Affinity trust – DCA Central Leicester is a supported living service providing support to adults of all ages living with mental health conditions, people who have a learning disability and autistic people. The assessment was undertaken of a specialist service that is registered for use by autistic people or people with a learning disability. We assessed the care provision under Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture, as it is registered as a specialist service for this population group.
We made judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. We found people received care in accordance with this guidance and staff had received appropriate training relating to people with a learning disability and autistic people. Not everyone who used the service received the regulated activity personal care. CQC only assesses where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of our assessment there were 130 people using the service.
Risks were being assessed, and measures were in place to reduce the risks of avoidable harm and abuse. Where we had identified improvements needed in risk assessments, we were assured this was being addressed. Incidents, safeguarding concerns and complaints were analysed and lessons learned to reduce future risks. However, further improvements were needed to ensure monitoring and analysis of distressed incidents were sufficient robust and effective.
People received the support they required with their medicines, and these were regularly reviewed. People were supported to understand and maintain their tenancies, and staff supported them to ensure environments were safe, suitable and well maintained. Staff were deployed to meet people’s needs and keep them safe, though some people and relatives had concerns around staff consistency and skills in some services. The registered manager was aware of this and had identified improvements at the time of our inspection visit. There were enough care workers who were trained to support the people using the service. There was ongoing work to ensure people received support of consistent staff and to improve induction standards and on-going training for staff.
People were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff protected their privacy and dignity. They treated them as individuals and supported their preferences. People’s consent was sought, though some mental capacity assessments required development to ensure these were decision specific. People were supported to identify and achieve meaningful goals and aspirations, including hobbies and interests, and enabled to be as independent as possible. Staff encouraged and supported people to be a part of their local communities. People had choice in their care and were encouraged to maintain relationships with family and friends. The provider promoted and supported staff wellbeing. There were systems in place for people and their representatives, where appropriate, to give feedback about their care, including making complaints. Feedback was used to improve the service.
Leaders and staff had a shared vision and culture based on listening, learning and trust. Leaders were visible, knowledgeable and supportive, helping staff develop in their roles. Staff felt supported to give feedback and were treated equally, free from bullying or harassment. People with protected characteristics felt supported. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities. Managers worked with the local community to deliver the best possible care and were receptive to new ideas. There was a culture of continuous improvement with staff given time and resources to try new ideas. The service was being monitored and audits undertaken. Where shortfalls had been identified there was improvement plans in place which demonstrated they were being addressed. This included improvements in people’s care plans and risk assessments and in staff recruitment.