About the service Summerwood is a residential care home providing personal care to people with learning disabilities and/or autism, some of whom were not able to tell us about their views of their care. The service was registered to provide support to up to 8 people. There were 8 people using the service at the time of our inspection.
The service is larger than recommended by best practice guidance. However, we have rated this service outstanding because they arranged the service in a way that ensured people received person-centred care and were supported to maximise their independence, choice, control and involvement in the community. 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 and what we found
People we spoke with told us they were happy living at Summerwood and relatives consistently told us they were exceptionally happy with the excellent care their loved ones received. They told us the registered manager, provider and staff were “absolutely brilliant,” “fantastic,” “they saved our life” and were “completely outstanding.”
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.
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 and relatives told us they thought the service was very safe and said staff had an excellent understanding of their loved one’s needs and risks. Robust risk assessments and risk management plans enabled people to live least restrictive lives and enjoy their community, develop confidence, skills and self-esteem as all citizens should expect. People who had, in previous placements, been restrained or unable to take part in the community were now enjoying these freedoms. Equality, diversity and human rights were lived and promoted by staff within the home and within the wider community.
People were supported by compassionate, friendly and committed staff led by an experienced and passionate management team with a pro-active, solution focussed ‘can do’ attitude which led to exceptional outcomes for people. They promoted an exceptionally open and person-centred culture in which the well-being and growth of people was the focus, and this was shared by the staff team and embedded in all care practices. Relatives, health and care professionals and staff spoke extremely highly about the management of, and the ethos within the home. This was recognised by various national and local awards the provider, nominated individual and staff had received for their innovation, commitment to, and outcomes for people with learning disabilities and autism.
A robust reporting structure ensured the nominated individual and the provider had up to date and regular oversight of the home. The flat management structed meant the nominated individual and provider had direct contact with the registered manager and provided support and hands on assistance with developing the home. Regular checks of safety and quality were made to ensure people were protected and information was used to improve the environment and the quality of the service.
Staff knew people exceptionally well and communicated information to health and care professionals effectively to support clinical decision making. This was confirmed by health and care professionals who told us, “I’m very impressed,” and “They went above and beyond on a daily basis with their care.” Staff went to exceptional lengths, which included providing training and advice to the local community to ensure the people they supported were not discriminated against or excluded from community activities due to their complex behaviours.
People at Summerwood were living with a learning disability or autism. Some people were not always able to make some decisions about their care and support. Where this was the case, the service protected their rights and delivered care in the person’s best interests. Staff ensured people had the support and information in a way they could understand which empowered them to make choices. This was sensitively handled during end of life care for one person by staff who sat with them and supported them to understand their illness and treatment with easy read booklets and social stories. Staff provided compassionate, caring one to one end of life support. Physical changes were made to the home environment to ensure a person could have their wish to stay at home at the end of their life. A health professional spoke extremely highly of the exceptional support from Summerwood staff which they said, without this, it would not have been possible for the person to remain at home.
Staff were exceptionally well trained, skilled and supported. Staff received bespoke training when required, to enable them to better support people’s individual needs, challenges and health conditions. They worked closely with people, their families and other professionals to overcome challenges, risks and promote their independence. People, and their families described the staff as being exceptionally caring, kind and friendly and the atmosphere of the home as relaxed and engaging. Health and care professionals consistently told us staff were thoughtful and went over and above to ensure people and their families were happy and supported.
Robust and detailed assessments ensured effective person-centred support from the start of the placement. The service was extremely responsive to people’s current and changing needs, finding creative solutions when things didn’t go according to plan or risks changed. For example, with eating and drinking. People and their relatives were involved in assessments, support planning and regular reviews which ensured people were at the centre of their support.
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 (published 3 August 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.