Archived: Aspen Court

Aspen Court is a residential care home providing personal care to people living with a learning disability. The service can support up to 5 people. At the time of the inspection there were 5 people receiving care and support accommodated in 3 individual houses and two self-contained flats.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

Right Support

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 focused on people’s strengths and promoted what they could do, so people had a fulfilling and meaningful everyday life. People and their relatives confirmed this.

The service was designed to support people living in individual self-contained houses and flats. Which promoted people’s independence. People had access to outside space, and this had been designed to meet their needs. People were supported to maintain and pursue their interests and to achieve their aspirations and goals. The service made reasonable adjustments so people could be fully involved in discussions about how they received support. People received their medicines as prescribed. However, some guidance documentation, for as and when required medicines, required improving. We have made a recommendation that protocols are introduced to ensure the correct guidance is available to staff.

Right Care

People received care and support from staff who knew them well and understood their needs and considered their preferences. Staff interacted positively with people and had a caring and respectful approach. Staff understood people’s individual ways of communicating. Staff could recognise and report abuse and there were enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. It was clear staff cared deeply for the people they supported.

Staff sought appropriate advice from healthcare professionals in a timely way and staff ensured this was followed.

Right Culture

People were supported to lead lives that were person-centred and inclusive. People were involved in planning their support and deciding how they wanted staff to support them to meet their outcomes and achieve their goals. people received support based on transparency, respect and inclusivity.

Governance systems were in place, which included a series of audits and checks. For example, infection control and care planning. Action plans were used to develop and improve the service.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

This service was registered with us on 11 March 2021 and this is the first inspection

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

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, which will help inform when we next inspect.