About the service Rockfield House is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 14 adults with a learning disability, autism or mental health needs. The House is a spacious and has a separate annex building which is more semi-independent and used to help people transition into the community.
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 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.
The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties. It was registered for the support of up to 14 people. Ten people were using the service. This is larger than current best practice guidance. However, the size of the service having a negative impact on people was mitigated by the building design fitting into the residential area and the other large domestic homes of a similar size. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people. People set their own meal times around their individual plans for the day.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Everyone we spoke with said they felt safe living at the home. There was enough staff on duty to be able to support people safely. Staff recruitment and selection remained safe. Medication was well managed and stored correctly. Staff knew the correct process to follow if the felt someone was being harmed or abused.
Staff were trained and had the appropriate skills to support people safely. Staff engaged in regular supervision. There were no set meal times, people planned their own meal times in accordance with their own daily planner. Where needed, people were supported with their eating and drinking needs.
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.
Staff treated people with kindness and respect. We observed staff supporting people in communal areas, and speaking to them with respect, offering choices and empowering people. People were involved in their care plans and review processes.
Information within support plans was person centred. These support plans contained information about people’s backgrounds, likes dislikes and routines Support plans were person centred and contained information about people’s backgrounds, likes, dislikes and routines. There was an emphasis on people achieving their own individual outcomes. People were supported to engage in employment opportunities where appropriate and complaints were well managed.
There was strong leadership and oversight within the service. Different audits had identified the need for positive changes to be implemented, most of which had already been actioned. The registered provider and the staff team had taken on board feedback from the last inspection and implemented some new processes, which were shared with us.
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
The last rating for this service was good (published 24 March 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.