The Care Quality Commission
  • Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Dimensions 53-55 Cheshire Drive

55 Cheshire Drive, Leavesden, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD25 7GP (01923) 682671

Provided and run by:
Dimensions (UK) Limited

All Inspections

2 September 2013

During a routine inspection

We had the opportunity to meet with four people who lived at the house and their support staff. The staff were confident in telling us that they regarded the house to be a, 'Happy place to work'. We observed staff to be patient and understanding of the complex and individual needs of the people who they worked with.

One person who lived at the house told us that they, 'Liked the people who they shared their home with'. We were shown, in pictures, by one person how they planned their day and how this was an exciting way to do something. The people who used the service were satisfied with the care that they received and said, "The house is a home for them".

We read about the detailed support plans that people had and read about their daily experiences in diaries and detailed records. The people who use the service were provided with a safe and supportive place to live.

2 January 2013

During a routine inspection

During our visit to the service on 02 January 2012, we met and spent time with the four people who lived at 55 Cheshire Drive. We observed how they spent their time and the interaction they had with the staff supporting them, as not everyone was able to express their views to us directly. The people we met looked relaxed and happy as they moved about their home and had contact with staff. One person was assisted to cook their own meal. Another person had a pictorial communication book to enable them to make their wishes known. We noted that people had been given opportunities to take part in a wide variety of social and educational activities in the community that matched their individual interests. One person told us about the horse riding sessions they had been to and about their friends. Where people were able to they confirmed that they were happy with the staff who supported them.

Following our visit we contacted relatives who visit the service. Two relatives told us that they were happy with the service being provided and described the staff as caring. The relatives told us they could bring things up with staff and action was taken to address any issues raised. They said that staff kept them informed about their relative who was using the service.

30 January 2012

During a routine inspection

We used a number of different methods to help us understand the experiences of people using the service, because the people using the service had complex needs which meant they were not able to tell us their experiences. When we visited the home on 30 January 2012 we observed how the staff interacted with people in the home, and involved them in activities of daily living, and in making choices about their daily lives. Three people agreed to show us around the home, and we saw how the staff supported them to make decisions about their daily lives and their leisure activities.