We carried out a review of the data available to us about Lakenheath 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 Lakenheath, you can give feedback on this service.
Lakenheath is a care home providing accommodation and personal care to adults who are autistic and / or have a learning disability. The home is set out over two self-contained domestic semidetached properties within a residential area of Warrington. The service can support up to four people, at the time of our inspection four people were living in the home.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People living at the home were treated with respect and dignity. People showed us by their actions that they liked the staff members caring for them, were very comfortable in their company and enjoyed interacting with them. Staff were creative in involving people, dignifying them and promoting their independence. People enjoyed using the home to relax and we saw people choosing how they spend their time in the home and being empowered to make choices and take the lead. People’s relatives told us that staff had a culture of listening to people at the home.
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 homes environment was safe, the administration of people’s medication was safe, and people were safeguarded from the risk of abuse. People were provided with information and support to help keep themselves as safe as possible. When needed staff effectively used the systems in place to help them identify and reduce risks in people’s lives. Staff enabled people to take positive risks and have new experiences as safely as possible.
The service took action to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. People’s family members told us that they were happy with the support provided during this time. One person’s family member told us, “They have worked so hard during COVID.” Another person’s relative told us, “They really care about them. We have all been well supported through this.”
We have made a recommendation about testing for COVID-19.
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.
Right support:
• The model of care and the accommodation maximised people’s choice and control, independence and promoted opportunities for inclusion. Lakenheath care home was set out across two semidetached houses that operated as two separate households. Each person’s accommodation was thoughtfully designed and adapted in partnership with them and their family to ensure it met their needs and preferences.
The model and style of accommodation promoted people having an ordinary lifestyle within their community and having control over their environment. The home provided support and accommodation close to people’s families who lived in the local area.
Right care:
• Care is person-centred and promotes people’s dignity, privacy and human Rights. People were supported to make their own decisions and take the lead in their lives, staff respected people’s decisions and promoted people making as many choices as possible. Each person had a detailed personalised care plan that focused on their needs, preferences and what was important to them. Care plans were written in partnership with people and those that are important to them, such as their family members.
Right culture:
• There was a positive, person centred culture amongst the staff team. It was clear that this approach had helped people to have positive outcomes even during difficult times. The provider worked collaboratively and in partnership with people using the service and a range of stakeholders. Amongst staff there was a culture of trying new things and trailing new ways of working based upon their learning about people, along with their communication and feedback.
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 11 April 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection following the registration with CQC.
We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.
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.