Middleton Fells

Middleton Fells provides personal care and accommodation for up to 6 people who have a learning disability and/or autism. Six people were living in the home when we inspected. Accommodation is provided in individual units in an adapted older property on the outskirts of Sedburgh. There are extensive grounds and gardens.

People's experience of using his service and what we found

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

Right Support

People were supported by enough skilled and trained staff who were committed to supporting them to make choices and have control of their lives. People's ability to communicate and interact with staff and engage in activities had been enhanced by the involvement of other professionals to maximise people's input. Staff were able to describe the techniques and methods they followed to understand and interact effectively with people. Managers were knowledgeable about how best to support people and provided staff with support and guidance in ways that promoted people's independence.

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.

Right Care

People received person-centred care because managers and staff had completed thorough assessments of people's needs in a multi-disciplinary team setting. The support people needed was described in enough detail to guide staffs' practice. Care plans were frequently reviewed which identified people's achievements and successes and considered what might be improved. This helped maintain consistent person-centred approaches.

Staff were skilled in supporting people when they experienced distress which may lead to risk for the person or others. Managers and the team reviewed all incidents to improve understanding and learning. This had improved people's quality of life because some people had reduced periods of distress. Some people had been able to access more activities in the community and/or tolerate care and medical interventions. Staff upheld people's dignity and privacy discreetly and kindly.

Right Culture

People were valued and empowered because the culture and values of the organisation focused on the impact of people's experiences of learning disabilities and/or autism and strived to promote optimum opportunities to live fulfilling lives. Managers and staff were committed to the values of the organisation and promoted a positive culture in the home. The provider's induction training enhanced staff's knowledge and understanding of the aims of the organisation and the values they promoted. Managers and staff were happy working in the home and care practice reflected the values CQC expect in relation to 'Right support, Right care, Right culture'

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Why we inspected

The service first registered with us on 7 March 2022 and this was the first inspection.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.