- Care home
Real Life Options - 90 Capel Gardens
Assessment report published 12 June 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Real Life Options - 90 Capel Gardens is a care home providing care and support for up to 6 people who have learning disabilities, some of whom live with mental health conditions and may have sensory impairments.
Assessment activity started on 6 May 2026 and ended on 28 May 2026.
The last rating for this service was good (published 11 January 2019). This assessment was planned due to the length of time since our last rating. Following this assessment, the service remains good.
Some people using the service had a learning disability. We assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities most people take for granted.
Systems and processes were in place to review and monitor the safety and quality of care. People were safeguarded from avoidable harm. Staff were trained in how to identify and address safeguarding concerns. Staff understood people’s needs and the risks associated with any health conditions. There were processes in place for people to speak up if they had any concerns.
Risk assessments were in place, and they identified current risks to the person as well as ways for staff to minimise or appropriately manage those risks, including for positive risk taking.
There were enough staff deployed to meet people’s needs. Systems and procedures for recruiting new staff were robust. Staff received training and this was monitored to ensure it was up to date. There were effective processes to prevent and control infection. People’s medicines were managed safely.
People were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff protected people’s privacy and dignity. They treated people as individuals and supported their preferences. People had choice in their care and were encouraged to maintain relationships with family and friends. Staff responded to people’s needs in a timely way. The service provided people with information they could easily understand and access.
Care plans reflected current best practice in how to support people with a learning disability and autistic people safely and effectively. Staff gained people's consent prior to providing care and support. Care plans provided staff with guidance about how to involve people as fully as possible in making decisions.
Systems and processes to assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service were in place. Improvements were required to the effectiveness of these. The manager and senior management demonstrated a commitment to continuous improvement and was responsive to any feedback we gave during the assessment.
People's experience of this service
People using the service could not always communicate with us so we undertook general observations to understand the experience of the people and their care and how staff interacted with people and supported them. We met 6 people who received care and were able to speak with 1 person. We also obtained feedback from 4 relatives as part of this assessment.
People and relatives spoke positively about the service, describing staff as kind, respectful, and knowledgeable. A relative said, “I believe my [family member] is in the best place. The home is ideal is for [family member]. [Staff] are looking out for [family member].” Another relative told us, “When I do see my [family member], they seem to be well cared for. The staff are always friendly.”
Relatives we spoke with told us they were confident their family member was well cared for by staff who understood their needs. A relative said, “Yes I am very much happy with the care [family member] receives.” Another relative told us, “My [family member’s] needs are being well met.”
Relatives felt able to complain and were confident that if they did, appropriate action would be taken, and improvements would be made. A relative told us, “I would definitely raise concerns with the manager and wouldn’t hesitate to. I know [they] would address them.”