19 March 2012
During a routine inspection
Staff and the people living there talked to us about the move to the new bungalows in the next few months. New bungalows were being built on a local site and two people from the home will live in each one.The support people will receive will be based on the 'supported living' model where people have their own tenancy agreement and support is provided by staff to the individual when needed. People's needs had been assessed by professionals from the community learning disability team. They and their relatives have been informed of the move and been involved in the process.
People told us they liked living at the home and that staff helped them to do the things they wanted. They said that they could choose what they did and what they ate and drank.
The home was clean and well maintained. Each person had their own bedroom. These were personalised to individual tastes and interests. People told us they had chosen the decoration and furniture for their bedroom.
People were dressed in individual styles and attention had been given to their personal care, so promoting their self esteem. People told us they brought the toiletries they liked and staff supported them to have a bath or shower when they wanted to.
Care plans were not detailed as to how staff were to support an individual to meet their needs. However, staff knew people well and how to support them, so the risk of people not having their needs met was reduced when permanent staff were working with them.
We saw that staff noticed when a person was unwell and made referrals to the relevant health professionals to get advice and treatment if needed. People had regular health checks and records were made of these so that all staff knew what follow up care was needed.
Staff had training in safeguarding and knew what to do to ensure that the people living there were safeguarded from abuse and harm.
Staff were well supported in their role. They had regular training, supervision and staff meetings so as to keep their skills and knowledge updated in meeting the needs of the people living there.
People told us they knew how to complain if they were not happy living there and would do this. The people living there and those important to them were asked for their views on the home. The responses to these were positive.