We carried out a review of the data available to us about Forest Hall 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 Forest Hall, you can give feedback on this service.
Forest Hall is a care home providing personal and nursing care for up to six people with autism or a mental health condition. At the time of the inspection the service was supporting three people.
The service was divided into four self-contained flats. Two flats accommodate one person and two flats can accommodate two people, each with their own bedrooms. An office is located within one of the flats.
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 told us they were safe and well looked after by staff. The home had dealt with any safeguarding concerns appropriately. Risks associated with people’s care and daily lives had been assessed and action taken to minimise these. There were enough staff to support people and safe recruitment processes had been followed. The home was clean and tidy. People were appropriately supported to take their medicines.
Individual’s need and personal choices were well supported by the service. Staff had a range of training, although we noted that the scope of mandatory training could be wider. Staff received regular supervision and appraisals. People were helped to make their own choice of meals and supported to shop for the ingredients. The service worked closely with other agencies to ensure people’s health and wellbeing.
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. The design of the home allowed people to have as much independence as possible and maintain their privacy and dignity.
People told us they liked living at the home and the staff were caring and supportive. People were supported to make choices about their care, as much as possible. Staff had a good understanding of people’s personalities and worked to maintain their independence and extend their skills.
People’s care plans were extremely detailed but often contained duplicate information. We have made a recommendation about improvements to the care planning process. Care plans were regularly reviewed to ensure they remained relevant and fully reflected people’s changing needs. Information was provided in a format that was accessible to people. Staff assisted people to access the local community and supported then to engage in a range of activities. The provider had received a small number of informal complaints which had been dealt with appropriately.
Staff told us the registered manager was extremely supportive and a relative said they thought the registered manager was a strong leader. A number of quality checks and audits were undertaken, although the detail was not always thorough. We have made a recommendation about this. People were supported to engage in the running of the service as much as possible. There was clear evidence the service worked in partnership with several agencies to support people who lived at the home. The provider was meeting their legal obligations in terms of notifying the Commission or incidents and events.
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.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 9 April 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the date the service was first registered.
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.