18 September 2012
During a themed inspection looking at Learning Disability Services
Patients told us they liked living there and that the staff supported them. One patient said, 'Staff speak in a nice way, they're really nice, I get on well with them.'
We talked to patients about how they were involved in moving on from Suttons Drive. They told us they were involved in this. One patient told us, 'I am moving on shortly to a flat and will live next door to a friend. I am looking forward to this.'
One relative told us that when their relative was moved to Suttons Drive it was the best thing that had happened to their relative and to them. This was because of the support they both got from staff during the time their relative lived there. They thought that their relative's ability to now live on their own, with support from a domiciliary care agency was entirely due to what staff at Suttons Drive had done for them.
Patients told us they took part in different activities that they enjoyed. They said that they liked having such a big garden where they could have their own space and ride their bikes. Patients told us that staff supported them to go shopping and out on buses and they liked this. One patient said, 'I went to the pub for lunch yesterday, I got one bus to there. I go shopping to buy my cigarettes. I am going to the disco tonight and I go to church sometimes, when I want to.'
Patients said that staff helped them to be well. They said that staff would make sure they saw the doctor if they needed to. Staff helped them to learn about healthy eating and reduced how many cigarettes they smoked, which helped them to keep well. One patient told us, 'Staff have told me it is good to drink water and not coke all the time so I do this. I go jogging for exercise.'
Patients generally told us they felt safe there. One patient told us they did not because they had been hurt by another patient, they could not remember when this was. One relative told us, 'I knew my relative was safe there, which was because the staff there understood about learning disabilities and challenging behaviour.'