We carried out a review of the data available to us about Shepherds Corner 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 Shepherds Corner, you can give feedback on this service.
Shepherds Corner is a residential care home which specialises in supporting people with learning disabilities and/or autism. 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.
Shepherds Corner is a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties. It was registered for the support of up to 13 people. Ten people were using the service. This is larger than current best practice guidance. However, the size of the service having a negative impact on people was mitigated by the building design fitting in with the residential area and other domestic homes of a similar size. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home.
People’s experience of using this service
People were safe at the service. Staff were trained to safeguard people from abuse and knew how to minimise identified risks to people’s safety. Health and safety checks were carried out of the premises and equipment to make sure they were safe. The premises was clean and tidy and provided a range of comfortable spaces for people to spend time in. Staff followed good practice when providing personal care and when preparing and handling food which reduced hygiene risks.
There were enough staff to support people. The provider made sure staff were suitable and fit to support people and given training to help them meet people’s needs. Staff were motivated to provide high quality care and support. They were supported by the provider to review and continuously improve their working practices.
People’s needs were met by staff. People were involved by staff in planning and making decisions about their support. Staff used people’s preferred method of communication to make sure they could have a say. Staff knew people well and respected people’s choices for how they wanted their care to be provided. Staff were kind, caring and supported people in a dignified way which maintained their privacy and independence. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
Staff helped people stay healthy and well. They supported people to eat and drink enough to meet their needs and to take their prescribed medicines. Extra help was sought for people if they needed this, for example when they became unwell. Staff worked well with other healthcare professionals to ensure a joined-up approach to the care people received.
People and their representatives were satisfied with the care and support provided by staff. They knew how to make a complaint if needed. The registered manager investigated accidents, incidents and complaints and kept people involved and informed of the outcome. Improvements were made when needed and learning from investigations was shared with staff to help them improve the quality and safety of the support they provided.
The registered manager encouraged people, their representatives and staff to have their say about how the service could improve. They used this feedback along with other checks, to monitor, review and improve the quality and safety of the support provided. The provider worked proactively with other agencies and acted on recommendations to improve the quality and safety of the service for people.
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.
The Secretary of State has asked the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to conduct a thematic review and to make recommendations about the use of restrictive interventions in settings that provide care for people with or who might have mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or autism. Thematic reviews look in-depth at specific issues concerning quality of care across the health and social care sectors. They expand our understanding of both good and poor practice and of the potential drivers of improvement.
As part of thematic review, we carried out a survey with the registered manager at this inspection. This considered whether the service used any restrictive intervention practices (restraint, seclusion and segregation) when supporting people.
The service used some restrictive intervention practices as a last resort, in a person-centred way, in line with positive behaviour support principles.
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 7 April 2017).
Why we inspected
This inspection was planned based on the previous rating of ‘Good’.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor the service to ensure that people receive safe, compassionate, high quality care. Further inspections will be planned in line with our inspection schedule or in response to concerns.
At the last inspection in February 2015, the service was rated Good.
At this inspection we found the service remained Good.
The service demonstrated they continued to meet the regulations and fundamental standards.
People using the service felt safe living at Shepherds Corner and spoke positively about the support provided to them. They said staff treated them with kindness and respect. People were supported to lead active lives and maintain relationships with those who matter to them. Relatives also spoke positively about the care and support provided both to people and to them.
People received care and support from a small group of staff who knew them well and understood their needs and preferences. Each person had an individualised support plan to make sure they received the support they required. Assessments completed by the service identified any risks to each person and helped to safely promote their independence.
People were supported to have their health needs met. We saw that people’s prescribed medicines were being stored securely and managed safely.
The staff attended training which gave them the knowledge and skills to support people effectively. People were supported to have choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People using the service felt able to speak to the registered manager or other staff to raise any issues or concerns.
An experienced registered manager was in post who knew the service and the people living there very well. There were systems in place to help ensure the safety and quality of the service provided.
Further information is in the detailed findings below
Shepherds Corner is a residential care home that provides accommodation and personal support for up to thirteen people with learning disabilities, some of whom have additional mental health needs. The home is staffed by a team of care workers and 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.
This inspection of Shepherds Corner took place on 13 February and was unannounced. We last inspected the home in July 2013. At that inspection we found the service complied with all the regulations we assessed.
During this inspection we found that the service was well led and that staff were caring and understood the needs and preferences of the people who lived at Shepherds Corner.
Some people were able to tell us directly what their views were of the service, whilst others used other forms of communication such as sign language, gestures and other responses to questions. Everyone we spoke with told us or otherwise indicated that they felt safe using the service. Staff were trained in safeguarding adults and the service had policies and procedures in place to ensure that the service responded appropriately to allegations or suspicions of abuse. The service ensured that people’s human rights were respected and took action to assess and minimise risks to people. Staff had received training on behaviour that may challenge and the service consulted with other professionals about managing aspects of behaviour safely.
All of the people we spoke with either told us or indicated that they thought that staff were friendly and helpful. Throughout our inspection we observed that staff were caring and attentive to people. Staff approached people with dignity and respect and demonstrated a good understanding of people’s needs. Staff were quick to respond when people needed support.
The service was effective in supporting people to be as active in the community and in the home as they wished. Where people lacked capacity to make informed decisions there were good systems in place to ensure that staff worked within the procedures of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and to act in people’s best interests.
There were enough qualified and skilled staff at the service. Staffing numbers and shifts were managed to suit people's needs so that people received their care when they needed and wanted it. Staff had access to information, support and training that they needed to do their jobs well. The provider’s training programme was designed to meet the needs of people using the service so that staff had the knowledge they required to care for people effectively.
People told us they were happy with the way they lived at the home and with the amount of choice they had over their lives. People were provided with a range of activities in and outside the service which met their individual needs and interests.
Care plans contained information about the health and social care support people needed and records showed they were supported to access other professionals when required. People were involved in making decisions about their care. Where people's needs changed, the provider responded and reviewed the care provided.
People using the service and staff told us they found the manager to be approachable and accessible. We observed an open and inclusive atmosphere in the service.
Staff were happy working for the service and motivated to provide person centred care.
The provider had a number of audits and quality assurance programmes in place. These included action plans so the provider could monitor whether necessary changes were made and ensure high standards were being maintained.
The service had effective procedures for reporting and investigating incidents and accidents. There were systems to learn from incidents and adverse events and protect people from the risks of similar events happening again.
We saw that people who used the service were treated with respect by suitably trained and supported staff. We saw that staff provided person centred and safe care which met people's needs and preferences. People were also involved in discussions about the care and support they received and could influence how their home was run.
We found the provider had appropriate arrangements in place to manage medicines and routinely assess and monitor the quality of the care and support people who lived at Shepherds Corner received.