AN autism charity says it is 'making progress' after a new report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found one of its services 'requires improvement'.

Inspectors said The National Autistic Society (NAS) Community Services in Somerset 'required improvement' in three of the five areas it was rated in, but noted some improvements had been made since the previous inspection in February 2017.

In 2016 the service received a 'requires improvement' rating after it was found in breach of five regulations of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and was served with two warning notices.

In 2017, inspectors visited the service to check the provider was meeting the legal requirements for the two regulations they had breached and found the provider had taken action to ensure they were complying with the regulations.

The most recent inspection was announced and took place on January 22 and 24 at the service in Brent Knoll which provides care and support to people living in three 'supported living' settings, so that they can live in their own home as independently as possible.

"During this comprehensive inspection we found that improvements had been made in some areas, however we found some similar concerns to the inspection in September 2016, which resulted in breaches of the regulations," the inspectors said in the report.

"There was not a registered manager in post.

"The previous registered manager had left the service, the provider had recruited a new manager who had left the service the week prior to our inspection.

"The provider was in the process of recruiting a new manager.

"We found risks relating to people were not always recorded and formally assessed. Recruitment procedures were not always consistently followed to ensure staffs suitability to work with vulnerable adults.

"People's legal rights in relation to decision making were not always upheld. Where people lacked capacity to make decisions for themselves the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 were not always followed."

The inspectors rated the service as 'Good' in terms of being caring and responsive, but requiring improvement in areas concerning safety, effectiveness and management.

"All of the relatives we spoke with and staff felt the service was a safe place for people," the report states.

"There were systems in place to protect people from abuse and the staff we spoke with knew how to follow them.

"There were enough staff available to meet peoples need's. People's medicines were managed safely.

"Staff knew people well and we observed staff were caring in their interactions with people."

A spokesman for the National Autistic Society, said the charity is taking the CQC's findings 'very seriously' and working to make their community services 'consistently good'.

"We've been through a difficult period, particularly with staff turnover, and we weren't reaching the high standards we set ourselves across the whole service," the spokesman said.

"But, as the CQC recognised when they visited in January, we’ve been making progress.

"Since that visit five months ago, we've been building on this progress, working with the CQC to implement our action plan which is addressing the issues they identified, such as appointing an experienced manager and improving how we assure high standards of care and safety.

"We have very high expectations for our community services and, with a stable and well-led team in place, will continue to challenge ourselves and deliver sustained improvement.”