About the service Swallowfields Care Centre is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 9 people with a learning disability, such as autism. At the time of our inspection 9 people were living at the service.
The service was working towards the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This was to ensure 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 and what we found
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.
People told us they liked living at Swallowfields Care Centre and staff treated them with kindness. People had the support required to enable them to make their own decisions and learn skills new to them. We saw that risks had been appropriately identified and planned for with individual risk assessments in place for people. People’s medicines were managed safely.
People said they felt safe living at the service. Relatives we spoke to stated they felt their relative was safe and happy living at the service. People had input into food choices and people told us they enjoyed the food provided. People had access to a variety of activities provided both within the home or externally in the community. People’s voice was accounted for when booking activities or trips away from the home and this done though regular resident meetings.
People could access healthcare professional involvement when needed and where people had accidents and incidents staff responded to these to help reduce reoccurrence. People were supported by staff who had access to training, were competent in their role and worked well together as a team.
People had person-centred care plans which contained specific details for each person in terms of diagnosis, likes, dislikes, hobbies and medicines. People had the appropriate care planned around their individual needs,
Staff said they were happy working at Swallowfields Care Centre. Staff displayed a caring attitude towards the people they were supporting. Staff had developed close bonds with people and had provided consistent care and support. There was enough staff to safely support people and staff had been recruited safely.
The registered manager was fully aware of their responsibilities and kept staff motivated to ensure good retention of staff. They engaged with people and knew all their specific needs. There was a calm and happy atmosphere within the home produced by the shared caring ethos amongst management and staff.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
The last rating for this service was Good (report published 04 July 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned 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.