About the serviceRowan Cottage is a residential care home without nursing situated in Burghfield, Berkshire, providing care and accommodation for up to nine people with a learning disability, autistic spectrum disorder or mental health needs. It is a bungalow with an annexe and an enclosed garden. At the time of the inspection there were nine people living at the service, eight in the main house and one in the self-contained ground floor annexe.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service
Support and care provided by staff was extremely personalised. Keyworkers went the extra mile to find out about people’s life histories, to ensure they had as much information as possible to inform the care planning process. Excellent consistency and continuity of care provided by a stable staff team has had a major impact on people’s quality of life. Visiting professionals consistently told us that the service was focused on providing person-centred care and support, which achieved exceptional outcomes for people. Staff were particularly skilful in supporting people to maintain relationships which were important to them and their emotional wellbeing.
Arrangements for social activities, education and work, were innovative, varied, highly individualised and followed best practice guidance so people can live as full a life as possible. Staff were exceptional at developing bonds between people living in the home and supporting them to be mutually supportive of people in achieving their goals. Staff tenaciously supported people to achieve their ambitions and aspirations.
People and their relatives knew how to complain and were confident the registered manager and staff would listen and take appropriate action if they raised concerns. People’s mental health needs had been sensitively considered when exploring their end of life wishes.
People consistently told us they felt safe living in the home. Staff had completed required training and understood their responsibilities to safeguard people from discrimination, harm and abuse. Staff had identified risks to people and effectively implemented measures to ensure these were reduced and managed safely. People were supported by enough staff who knew them well and how to meet their changing needs. The provider completed thorough selection procedures to ensure staff were of suitable character to support people with mental health needs. People received their prescribed medicines safely, from staff who had completed the required training and had their competency to do so regularly assessed. People lived in a home which was clean, hygienic and well maintained.
People's needs were met by staff who had the necessary skills and knowledge to carry out their duties effectively. The manager operated a system of training, supervision, appraisal and competency assessments, which enabled staff to provide good quality care. Staff promoted people's health by supporting people to access health care services when required and by encouraging people to eat a healthy diet.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
Staff consistently treated people with kindness and compassion. People were supported to express their views and wishes about their needs, which were respected by staff. People's privacy and dignity were promoted by staff during the delivery of their care.
The registered manager effectively operated quality assurance and governance systems to drive continuous improvement in the service. Staff worked well in collaboration with key organisations to ensure the safe and effective delivery of people’s care.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection:
The last rating for this service was outstanding (report published 13 July 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned comprehensive inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.