During an assessment under our new approach
We carried out this comprehensive assessment between 7 and 29 April 2025. The assessment was carried out partly due to a recent change in ownership of the service and partly due to the age of the current rating for this service. Telscombe Road is a residential care home providing accommodation to up to 6 people who require personal care. It was one of 5 residential services connected to St. John’s college where people attended for lessons during term time. At the time of our assessment 3 people were living at the service. The service is registered to provide support to younger adults and people living with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. People lived at the service safely and were protected from avoidable harm. A learning culture ensured that risks were minimised. All staff were appropriately trained and knew the steps to follow if they identified a safeguarding issue. The service was clean and medicines were administered safely. People’s needs were assessed and the service worked with other professionals to ensure people received the best support and best outcomes. A staff member said, “It’s about letting them live their best lives.” Mental capacity assessment were being reviewed and deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) were in place where appropriate. People received kindness and compassion from staff who also promoted people’s independence. People had choice and their needs were met. Staff welfare was managed well by the registered manager. Care was delivered in a person centred way and people had the tools available to them to be able to communicate their needs. Weekly planners were in place for activities and trips and people were able to chose what they wanted to do each week. The registered manager was approachable and had a clear vision about the future of the service putting people’s needs at the centre of everything. Staff had a voice and we were told managers listened to and responded to concerns or issues raised. A system of governance resulted in regular audits and reviews and any lessons learned were shared with staff. Staff told us that their religious and cultural needs were met and that the service embraced and promoted difference. During our assessment we spoke with 1 person, 3 relatives, 1 professional and 8 staff. Staff included the registered manager, deputy manager, human resources manager and a mixture of senior and junior carers. We looked at 3 care plans and associated documents relating to risk, mental capacity and medicine management. We looked at documents relating to accidents and incidents, and quality assurance. We have 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 that most people take for granted.