St Aidans

On this page

• Overview
• Kindness, compassion and dignity
• Treating people as individuals
• Independence, choice and control
• Responding to people’s immediate needs
• Workforce wellbeing and enablement

Caring – this means we looked for evidence that the provider involved people and treated them with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.

At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant people were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The provider always treated people with kindness, empathy and compassion and respected their privacy and dignity. Staff treated colleagues from other organisations with kindness and respect.

Positive, compassionate relationships were seen between people and staff. Staff were kind and caring and supporting of people. People told us they were happy at St Aidans, and we observed happy and kind interactions taking place.

Relatives were extremely positive about the care their family members received. One told us, “I am very happy with the care. The way they care for people, nothing is overlooked, anything that needs talking about they will call to get details updated, like medication changes, they listen to my views and always have done.” Professionals were also positive about their experiences accessing the short break service. One said, “The respite they offer is valued, personal, flexible and meets the carers needs. While those accessing sharing the experience being that of enjoyment.”

Care was individualised and provided according to people’s needs. Separate facilities were available where people required an individualised environment and there were communal areas where people were able to spend time with others or be in the comfort of their own bedrooms, as they wished.

The provider treated people as individuals and made sure people’s care, support and treatment met people’s needs and preferences. They took account of people’s strengths, abilities, aspirations, culture and unique backgrounds and protected characteristics.

People’s individual needs were considered. Care was provided in line with their preference, and choice. Transitions to access the service were considered throughout the assessment process, ensuring people accessed the short breaks service safely.

Relatives were positive about the care and individual choices provided to people. They told us, “When I pick [person] up, I can tell [person] is happy, they have a way of working with them to calm [person] down, can’t see anything that can be improved. They (St Aidans) are perfect.”

Relatives confirmed people’s religious and cultural preferences were supported. Comments included, “Culturally they (St Aidans) are very respectful. [Person] has a varied diet, what sometimes they do that is really nice they will cook a curry and naan bread for [person]. They celebrate different festivals and themes it is all very inclusive, different religions; it is a multicultural staff team now.” The registered manager discussed how they linked in with places of worship in the local community, as people wished.

The provider promoted people’s independence, so people knew their rights and had choice and control over their own care, treatment and wellbeing.

We observed staff engaging and supporting people, respecting wishes and choices in relation to the care provided supporting their well-being. Positive relationships were seen between all of the staff team and people. People were encouraged in choices around their day and what they liked to do. Relatives told us people were supported with their care and choice. They told us, “[Person] is very comfortable with them, [person] has never had any trouble there. We can go away knowing that [person] is happy there.”

Care records included person-centred information which enabled and supported staff to provide individualised care to them. Staff had received relevant training that ensured they had the skills to provide people person-centred care. Staff told us how they supported people to be independent and their choices considered. One said, “[People are supported to] do as much as they can for themselves and there are details in the care plans about promoting impedance. Assessment reviewing officer completes the care plans, they have good details about how to support people’s needs.”

A range of information about the activities people can access whilst staying in the service was on display. These were tailored to support and engage people living with a learning disability. Staff and the registered manager discussed the importance of ensuring people had access to activities according to their likes. We observed staff engaging and supporting people with activities during our visits. One person told us they had a regular job in the local town and staff ensured this was continued whilst they were in the service.

Relatives confirmed people were able to undertake activities of their choosing, Comments included, “They will do what [person] wants to do; take them out, go to pictures, go for a walk, there are other people there and [person] will socially mix with them quite nicely. Staff will take [person] anywhere they want to go. Staff know [person] as they have been going since it opened” and, “They do baking, they had a Valentines feast, arts and crafts. They always make a Mother’s Day card.”

The provider listened to and understood people’s needs, views and wishes. Staff responded to people’s needs in the moment and acted to minimise any discomfort, concern or distress.

People were listened to and their choice and needs were taken into account. Information was in a format that helped people to communicate, and we observed staff understood how to communicate with individuals where they were unable to communicate verbally.

Care was provided to people as they wished and needed. Staff gave caring and compassionate engagement and support. Staff acted appropriately to support a person when they felt unwell. Relatives told us staff supported people as they needed and chose. One said, “They mirror our routines at home, they mirror the care plan; they are strict about that, and we are strict about that too. It is a bit of a holiday retreat.”

The provider cared about and promoted the wellbeing of their staff and supported and enabled staff to always deliver person-centred care.

Staff were positive about the support received from all layers of the management team. They told us they felt part of a good team and included. One said, “We also support each other as a team and discuss any concerns with senior staff.”

We saw positive meaningful relationships between the staff team and leaders in the service. It was clear the registered manager was visible and engaging well with the staff team.

A detailed training programme was ongoing to support staff in their roles. Supervisions and spot checks were undertaken regularly and they were encouraged to take part in team meetings.