We carried out a review of the data available to us about Sandy Hill Court on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Sandy Hill Court, you can give feedback on this service.
Sandy Hill Court is a service which provides care for six people living in a supported living environment. This is a large building comprising eight flats. People supported have complex physical needs, learning disabilities and autism.
Everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided.
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
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.
Staff were caring in their approach and had good relationships with people. Promoting independence was a key part of the service and people were encouraged to improve their daily life skills.
There were enough staff to ensure people were safe. Where risks associated with people's health and wellbeing had been identified, plans were in place to manage those risks while ensuring people could remain independent.
Staff understood their responsibility to safeguard people from harm and knew how to report concerns.
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; systems supported this practice.
People received care which was responsive to their individual needs. A keyworker system was in place and staff had a good understanding of how to support them well.
Care records provided staff with information in relation to people’s backgrounds, interests and individual health needs.
The provider ensured care was based upon good practice guidance to help ensure people received an effective service.
As part of a thematic review, we carried out a survey with the registered manager at this inspection. This considered whether the service used any restrictive intervention practices (restraint, seclusion and segregation) when supporting people.
The service used some restrictive intervention practices as a last resort, in a person-centred way, in line with positive behaviour support principles.
Staff encouraged people to maintain a balanced diet and respected their individual choices. The provider and staff team worked closely with external healthcare professionals to ensure people's health and wellbeing was maintained.
A registered manager was in post. Positive feedback was received in relation to the management of the service. People, staff and professionals had opportunities to feedback about the running of the service.
Quality checks were carried out to monitor the service, and these identified where improvements could be made.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The service was rated as Good (published 10 March 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
Sandy Hill Court is a service which provides personal care support to adults with learning disabilities and complex needs. This is in a supported living environment which consists of eight self - contained apartments. At the time of our visit, two people used the service.
The service has a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. A registered manager was in place and had been since May 2016 when the service started.
Relatives told us people felt safe using the service because support workers were skilled and knowledgeable, and knew how to care for them well. Support workers had a good understanding of what constituted abuse and who to contact if safeguarding concerns were raised.
Checks were carried out prior to support workers starting work to ensure their suitability to work with people who used the service. Support workers received an induction to the organisation, and a programme of training to support them in meeting people’s needs effectively.
Staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (2005), and the registered manager had taken the required action if people were being deprived of their liberty.
People were assisted with their nutrition and to manage their health needs. Support workers referred people to other professionals if they had any concerns.
People had consistent staff they were familiar with and who provided support as outlined in their care plans. There were enough staff to care for people they supported and there was an on-going programme of recruitment.
Relatives told us support workers were kind and caring and had the right skills and experience to provide the care people required. People were supported with dignity and respect. Support workers encouraged people to be independent. The focus of the service was to develop people’s skills and confidence further, and we saw examples of where this had been achieved.
Care plans contained detailed, relevant information for support workers to help them provide personalised care including processes to minimise risks to people’s safety. People received their medicines when required from staff trained to administer them. The registered manager checked that staff remained competent to do this.
People and their relatives knew how to complain and had opportunities to share their views and opinions about the service they received. This was through keyworker meetings, review meetings and surveys.
Support workers were confident they could raise any concerns or issues with the registered manager knowing they would be listened to and acted on. People and staff told us the management team were effective and approachable.
The management team gave support workers formal opportunities to discuss any issues or raise concerns with them. There were processes to monitor the quality of the service provided. These checks were carried out by the registered manager and the provider. These ensured support workers worked in line with policies and procedures.