- Care home
Quantock House
Assessment report published 12 October 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
About the service
Quantock House – About the service
This is a supported living service providing accommodation and support for up to 6 people. At the time of the assessment, 6 people were using the service. The service is arranged over 2 floors and is located close to the seafront.
People live in a small group setting and share communal facilities, including a kitchen, lounge and dining area. This helps create a homely environment and enables staff to provide personalised, flexible support that reflects people's individual needs and preferences.
Who the service is for
This service is a specialist service for people with a physical disability, learning disability and autistic people. 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.
Key findings
We carried out this assessment on 20 to 28 August 2026. This service was previously rated as good. We carried out this assessment to confirm whether the rating of good remains accurate. This report does not provide detailed information on areas where we found practice continues to meet a good standard. Instead, our findings focus on any areas where the service needs to improve or where we found exceptional practice.
People can only be deprived of their liberty to receive care and treatment with appropriate legal authority. In care homes, this can be done through a procedure called the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), which is part of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). We checked whether the service was working within the principles of the MCA and how they managed DoLS within the service. We found that staff and management worked within the MCA. DoLS authorisations were appropriately applied for and overseen. People were not subject to unlawful or excessive restrictions they had choice, control and freedom over their lives.
People were protected from avoidable harm by a skilled and knowledgeable staff team who understood safeguarding responsibilities, managed risks effectively and supported people safely with their medicines. Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people's needs, and the environment was adapted to promote both safety and independence. A relative said, “The service manager will act immediately and is proactive.”
People's needs were thoroughly assessed before moving into the service and reviewed regularly to ensure care remained effective and responsive to changing needs. Staff worked closely with health and social care professionals and promoted people's rights, choice and control through effective application of the Mental Capacity Act. A relative said, “We chose the right home, he is consulted about everything and supported to make choices that are positive for her. She is absolutely settled there”.
Staff consistently treated people with exceptional kindness, compassion and respect, developing meaningful relationships that promoted wellbeing, dignity and a strong sense of belonging. People felt valued, safe and supported to maintain their independence and make choices about their daily lives. One relative said staff were “dedicated, patient and always going the extra mile.”
People received highly personalised support that reflected their preferences, strengths and aspirations. Staff listened to people, involved them in decisions and supported them to achieve meaningful outcomes, develop independence and remain active members of their community. A relative said, “[Person] was so proud to see the bird houses on display. It gave him a real sense of purpose and showed what they can achieve when they work together.”
The service was led by a positive and inclusive management team that promoted a strong culture of person-centred care, continuous learning and improvement. Robust governance arrangements and innovative approaches helped people achieve greater independence, confidence and inclusion within their local community. A professional told us: “Quantock House provides holistic and good care, that is person centred and brings happiness to people. It felt welcoming and supportive. Peoples input is sought all the time and independence is maximised no matter how big or small the goal is.”
People's experience of this service
People’s Experience
We spent time speaking with people and observing their interactions with staff. People were happy to share their experiences of living at the home and spoke positively about the care and support they received. Throughout the assessment, we observed staff were consistently kind and caring towards people living at the home, with call bells answered in a timely manner. Staff were attentive when assisting people during mealtimes and supported them to participate in activities.
We observed staff providing support in a timely and caring manner, ensuring people were encouraged to engage in activities that reflected their interests and preferences. Some activities were delivered in groups, such as a book club, which promoted social interaction, while others were tailored to individual needs. A person told us, “I go to the cinema, netball and shopping, and the staff support me to do this.” Some people go swimming, staff told us they are able to do this regularly and this supports peoples wellbeing.
Staff promoted people’s independence wherever possible. A staff member told us, “We ensure each person is supported in a way that suits them, their ability and ability.” The outdoor grounds had been redeveloped to make them more accessible, including raised flower beds and wider, level pathways to accommodate people’s wheelchairs. During the assessment, we observed people enjoying and making use of the outdoor areas with support from staff, in line with their wishes and individual needs. A person told us, “Have you been outside? It’s lovely and I have helped with gardening, which has been nice.”
People’s dignity was respected by staff. For example, we observed staff knocking on people’s doors before entering and closing doors when providing personal care. A staff member told us, “It is important we are respectful and I am mindful of this. Even when showering or bathing people, I take a dignified approach.”
Staff sought consent from people before providing care and support, while offering choice. A staff member told us, “I will always knock or ask before doing anything, even brushing hair I always ask first.”
People felt they were listened to and encouraged to express their views. Each person had a designated keyworker who had oversight of their care and support. A person told us, Yes, I have a key worker. I can talk to her.” People and their relatives participated in regular review meetings about their care. During these meetings, people’s care and support were discussed alongside their achievements and goals. Any changes were updated in people’s care plans. “Staff involve [person] in decisions about their care and support. For more complex matters, they include me in meetings and reviews. When changes arise, they seek my views and work with me to determine what is in [person]’s best interests.”