Archived: Belstead Villa

Updated 1 April 2020

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

This inspection was undertaken by one inspector.

Service and service type

Belstead Villa is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

We gave a very short period notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small, and people are often out, and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority who work with the service. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

During the inspection

We met with two people who used the service. They had complex support needs which meant they could not always verbally communicate with us verbally feedback about their support. When not verbalising their views, they communicated with us in different ways, such as facial expressions, signs and gestures. We observed the way they interacted with the staff and registered manager in their surroundings and also spoke with a visiting relative. We received feedback from four health and social care professionals.

We spoke with six members of staff including the registered manager, the operational lead for the provider and support staff.

We reviewed a range of records. This included one person’s care records and medication records. We looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 1 April 2020

About the service

Belstead Villa provides accommodation, care and support for up to four adults with a learning disability, autistic spectrum conditions and associated complex needs. There were four people living in the service when we inspected on 24 January 2020.

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 and what we found

People were supported by sufficient numbers of staff that had been recruited safely and had checks undertaken to ensure they were suitable for their role. People had their medicines on time and all areas of service were clean and tidy.

Staff had suitable training and experience. People had their health needs identified and supported. Menus were flexible and based on people's likes and dislikes. The staff team were aware of their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. The service used positive behaviour support principles to support people in the least restrictive way. No restrictive intervention practices were used.

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.

People received a service that was caring. Staff knew people well and treated them with respect and kindness. Staff knew people's needs well and were responsive and supportive.

The service was well managed by a very experienced registered manager. They involved people, staff, and relatives in the way it was run and kept them up to date with developments, progress and changes. The registered manager was proactive in researching the latest developments in support for people who have a learning disability and/or autism.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published 18 August 2017). You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Belstead Villa on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.