We carried out a review of the data available to us about Walsingham Support - Crummock Road 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 Walsingham Support - Crummock Road, you can give feedback on this service.
Holly Dyke is a residential care home for up to six people living with a learning disability. It is operated by Walsingham support, who provide residential homes and community support to people throughout England. People had single bedrooms and there were suitable shared facilities and a pleasant garden.The home does not provide nursing care.
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/or 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.
People’s experience of using this service
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 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.
Holly Dyke is an exceptionally well-led service with a commitment to quality. The registered manager had maintained and developed the staff team’s commitment to a service that engaged fully with people. The registered manager and her team were well respected in the local area and nationally. The team had come first the national Learning Disability and Autism Awards for care homes.
The service supported people to have meaningful individual, person-centred activities, including sporting and social activities, which were often based in their static caravan on the Cumbrian coast. People and the staff worked towards individual goals and also had projects in place that would benefit everyone in the home. These included a welfare project where people and staff increased their daily walking steps and ongoing fundraising to buy a new caravan for the people in the home. People had become more independent, had travelled, studied and undertaken voluntary work.
The service provided an outstandingly caring approach where the staff team put the needs of people first and where person-centred care was fundamental. Staff worked hard to support people to live as independently as possible. People’s needs, and wishes were recognised and met in an exceptional way. The team overcame barriers and encouraged people to achieve their dreams, maintain good health and become as independent as possible.
People told us they felt very safe. Staff understood their responsibilities in protecting people from harm and abuse. New members of staff had been suitably vetted. Accidents and incidents were responded to appropriately. Staffing arrangements ensured that people got the best care possible.
Staff had an in-depth and far reaching understanding of individual needs and wishes. The staff team had suitable training and experience in their different roles. Good attention was paid to health needs and people had their nutritional needs met well.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection:
Outstanding (4 August 2017).
Why we inspected:
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating
Follow up
We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.
At our previous inspection on 10 November 2014 the service was rated as good, with the outcome 'Well -led' rated as outstanding.
Holly Dyke is a purpose built house that can accommodate up to six people who are living with autism or a learning disability. It is situated in a residential area of Workington and is near to local amenities. Accommodation is in single bedrooms. There is a lounge and a dining room, kitchen and a utility room. The house has a pleasant garden and a small car park.
Holly Dyke is operated by Walsingham who run similar services in England. The home has a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People in the home were protected from harm and abuse because staff were suitably trained and aware of their responsibilities. People told us that they felt safe in their house and trusted the staff team. Staff told us they felt confident about speaking of any concerns they had to any member of staff but that they would normally go to the registered manager or her deputy.
Staff understood the theories and the practical application of equality and diversity measures and paid attention to the human rights of people in the home.
Risk assessments and risk management plans were in place. There was an emergency plan and the building was safe and secure. Suitable measures were in place to ensure that infection control was in place. Accidents and incidents were reported and managed appropriately.
Staff were suitably recruited and inducted. There were good numbers of staff deployed by day and night. The organisation had appropriate disciplinary procedures in place.
Medicines were appropriately managed and staff received training and checks on their competence.
Staff received good levels of training and support. Supervision and appraisal were in place. Good practice issues were discussed in the team. Good levels of communication were evident in the service.
Staff understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and no one was deprived of their liberty without the relevant authorisations being in place. Restraint was not used but staff had suitable training to support people who found managing their behaviour and emotions to be problematic. People told us that consent was sought for any interactions.
People were happy with the food and drink provided. People were encouraged to eat healthily. The staff had a good knowledge of nutritional needs.
We learned that the mental and physical health of people in the service was closely monitored and advice and treatment sought where necessary.
The house was suitably adapted and was a comfortable home for the people who lived there. Maintenance and improvement to the building were given high priority.
We observed sensitive and caring interactions between staff and the people in the home and between the people who lived in Holly Dyke. People were very involved with everything that went on in the house and their opinions sought. Staff took time to explain things to people and gave them choices. There was good access to advocacy services if necessary. Dignity and independence were promoted.
The staff team were aware that some people in the home were growing older and they were aware of the changes brought about by the ageing process. Staff were to be trained in end of life care.
Assessment and care planning were of a high standard. These documents were current, based on good practice and gave details of how people wished to be cared for in all aspects of their lives. We had evidence to show that good person centred planning, detailed care planning and family work had helped people to overcome many personal and social barriers.
We had evidence to show that staff supported people to make the life style choices they wanted. We learned of how the team supported one person to move to more independent living and how they helped someone to make the choice to live in the house.
There had been no complaints received about the care or services in place.
People in the home had wide ranging activities and interests. We judged that the purchase of a holiday caravan had helped broaden people's life experience. People in the home had chosen to attend activities and entertainments in the community which helped them to be integrated into the wider community.
When we inspected the service in November 2014 we rated the outcome well-led as being outstanding due to the way quality was monitored and improvements made. We judged that this outcome remained as outstanding.
The home had an experienced and suitably trained manager whose enthusiasm and energy created a team who were also enthusiastic about the support they gave people. The registered manager and her deputy worked closely together and created a strong and stable leadership for people in the home and for the staff.
Quality systems operated at all levels of the organisation. Every member of staff had a role to play in ensuring high standards were met and improvements made. People were involved in recruitment and in decision making about their lives and the organisation of the home. Audits of all aspects of the service were completed routinely by senior officers of the organisation, the management team and by members of the staff team.
Detailed records were in place. All information was stored safely and was easy to access and to understand. Easy read formats were in place.
This was an unannounced inspection that took place on 10th November 2014 and was carried out by one adult social care inspector.
This service is operated by Walsingham who have similar services around England. Prior to this visit the provider had made us aware that the registered manager was not at work. Her absence was due to a planned health procedure. The deputy manager was acting as the manager of the service. We had an estimated date for the registered manager’s return from this planned absence. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
This service was good at keeping people safe from harm. Staff understood their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and had received suitable training and development support. We judged that the staff team were good at managing risks. We saw evidence of this in the way they managed risks and emergencies. We saw that there were always enough well trained staff on duty to support people. We checked on medicines management and found this to be in order.
Staff were expected to attend mandatory training and we saw that service specific training was delivered. Staff understood legislation around capacity and mental health issues. We saw that staff were trained in how to manage emotions and behaviours in people that might challenge.
People in the home were given suitable nutrition. Health care was good in the service and there was a focus on healthy living. Most of the people in the service took part in some form of sport or exercise.
The staff team knew people really well and they understood their background, life history and place in their family and friendship groups. There were good assessments of need and risk. Care plans had been prepared with the individuals and were detailed and up to date.
There were wide ranging and varied activities and entertainments on offer. People were encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves. No one we spoke with had any complaints but everyone felt confident that any complaints would be responded to appropriately.
The registered manager and her deputy were suitably skilled and experienced. The systems in place for monitoring quality allowed people to have the lifestyle they needed and wanted. The organisation had a variety of ways to consult with external stakeholders as well as people who used the service, their families and friends. We judged that both the internal and external systems for measuring quality and delivering improvements were of a very high standard.
"This year I have been camping and it was great...the food is good and I like making cakes...these staff are all my friends ...they are great too."
We saw that the people in the home were given good nutrition.There was a wide range of food available and people ate well and looked well. We saw that any health issues (including any weight loss) would be reported to the GP straight away. The staff team took advice from psychiatrists, psychologists and other health care specialists.
Care planning was detailed and up to date. The plans and the daily notes showed how people wanted to be supported and cared for.
The house was clean, tidy and homely. Everyone's bedroom was personalised to their needs and tastes. There was suitable equipment, furniture and fittings in place.
New staff were only taken on when the organisation was sure that they were the sort of people to be supporting vulnerable adults. Good systems were in place to deal with any disciplinary or competence issues with any member of staff.
The home had good records in place that confirmed the way the service was operating.
We asked people if they felt safe and protected in the service. We were told:
"I am fine here...no one is horrible to me...they are all nice to me and they come places with me so that I am well looked after."
The home had suitable staffing levels to make sure people could have support in the house and that they could go out and have fulfilling lives. The company made sure that they monitored the care, services and support within the home.
"It is a good place ".
"Good staff...they are nice."
"I go to golf and swimming and speedway."
"The staff are good at cooking and we get nice dinners."
"I like my room and it is nice and clean and I keep it tidy."
"We get good coffee here and we like to have a talk around the table when we have our coffee break".