About the service: Forestview is a residential home for adults with learning disabilities. It provides accommodation for up to eight people. There were seven people living there at the time of our inspection. The home is a bungalow with a communal lounge and dining room and an accessible kitchen. The service is run by the White Horse Care Trust.
People’s experience of using this service:
Forestview has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin Registering the Right Support, Building the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.
Relatives told us their family member was safe at Forestview. Staff had received safeguarding training and knew when and how to raise concerns.
People were protected from risks. There were various risk assessments in place for each person giving guidance to staff to reduce the risks identified. Risk assessments were reviewed regularly or when people’s needs changed.
There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty. Permanent staff were still being recruited but consistent agency and bank staff who knew people well, were being used. Staff had been recruited safely with all the appropriate checks in place.
Medicines were administered, stored and managed safely. Audits identified no errors in the months preceding the inspection.
Forestview was clean, tidy and homely and suited to the needs of people living there. People had individualised rooms with their personal items and favourite colours and décor.
People’s needs were thoroughly assessed by a multi-disciplinary team of specialist professionals within the learning disabilities service. People had access to health care and hospital treatment when needed.
Staff were trained in all of the providers mandatory areas and had the ability to access on line, face to face or group training. New staff had a robust and supported induction period. Some formal one to one supervision and appraisals were behind schedule but staff had regular informal ‘job chats’.
The service had improved to good in caring. The staff were very caring and knew people, their preferences likes and dislikes well. Staff took pride in the standard of care they provided. We received good feedback from relatives and visiting professionals about the quality of care and the quality time staff spent with people.
The service had improved to good in responsive. Care plans were person centred and were regularly reviewed and updated. They were all being actively reviewed at the time of the inspection ready for transfer to an efficient electronic version.
When people’s needs changed the appropriate referrals were made to re-assess and devise new strategies to support them effectively. The staff had regular meetings and discussions with health and social care professionals to ensure the right care was being provided.
There was a clear and supportive management structure in place. Quality assurance, audits and monitoring were undertaken by several layers of management. This meant that areas identified for improvement were acted upon in a timely manner.
Rating at last inspection: Requires Improvement (report published 28 March 2018).
Why we inspected: This was a planned comprehensive inspection based on the rating at the last inspection.
Follow up: We will monitor all intelligence about the service to inform when the next inspection should take place.