14 April 2022
During a routine inspection
About the service
Options Hazel House is a residential care home specialising in autism care and was providing personal care to three people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to four people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Right Support
The service gave people care and support in a safe, clean, well equipped, well-furnished and well-maintained environment that met their sensory and physical needs. Staff supported people with their medicines in a way which achieved best possible health outcomes. Staff did everything they could to avoid restraining people, following tailored positive behaviour support plans. The service recorded when this happened, but this was rare as it was often avoided.
The service supported people to have the maximum possible choice, control and independence. The service encouraged people to be involved fully in discussions about their support and plans, holding a weekly meeting for people to decide on activities and meals. People were supported by staff to pursue their interests and to achieve their aspirations and goals. For example, one person was supported to pursue horse riding, something they had shown an interest in. People’s rooms were personalised, and they were able to make choices about their living environment.
Right Care
People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people’s privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to people’s individual needs. Staff had training on how recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it. The service had enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. Some staff required more specialised training on learning disabilities and autism, but the service had booked this in for them.
People who had individual ways of communicating, using body language, sounds, Makaton (a form of sign language), pictures and symbols could interact with staff and others involved in their care and support because staff had the necessary skills to understand them.
People received care that focused on their quality of life and followed best practice, with input from a range of healthcare professionals. Staff, relatives and people cooperated to assess risks people might face. Where appropriate, staff encouraged and enabled people to take positive risks. One person was supported and encouraged to make their own cups of tea independently.
Right culture
People led inclusive and empowered lives because of the ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the management and staff. People received good quality care, support and treatment because trained staff could meet their needs and wishes. People received compassionate and empowering care that was tailored to their needs.
The service had worked to improve staff morale to decrease staff turnover, which supported people to receive consistent care from staff who knew them well. Staff placed people’s wishes, needs and rights at the heart of everything they did.
People and those important to them, were involved in planning their care. The service evaluated the quality of support provided to people, involving the person, their families and other professionals as appropriate. The service valued and acted upon people’s views. People’s quality of life was enhanced by the service’s culture of improvement and inclusivity. Staff ensured risks of a closed culture were minimised so that people received support based on transparency, respect and inclusivity.
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.
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 21 January 2021 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right Support Right Care Right Culture.
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.