Background to this inspection
Updated
27 April 2019
The inspection:
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team:
This inspection was completed by an inspector and an Expert by Experience on day one and a lone inspector on day two. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. Their area of expertise was learning disability and autism.
Service and service type:
The service is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the
care provided, and both were looked at on this inspection.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Inspection site visit activity started on 26 March 2019 and ended on 28 March 2019.
What we did:
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included details about incidents the provider must notify us about, such as abuse, and we sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We assessed the information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
We spoke with seven people who used the service and met with three health care professionals who worked on site. We received feedback from three relatives via telephone.
We spoke with the registered manager, house managers and deputies. We met with five support workers and three health professionals employed at the service. We reviewed four people’s care files, four Medicine Administration Records (MAR), policies, risk assessments, health and safety records, incident reporting, consent to care and treatment and quality audits. We looked at three staff files, the recruitment process, complaints, and training and supervision records.
We walked around the homes and observed care practice and interactions between support staff and people.
Updated
27 April 2019
About the service:
The Sheiling Special Education Trust provides accommodation and personal care for up to 21 people who attend the college of further education on site. Accommodation for these people is provided in two homes, Westmount House and Watchmoor House. At the time of the inspection 16 people were living across the two houses.
The Sheiling Special Education Trust provides a therapeutic environment inspired by Rudolf Steiner for children and young adults with severe, complex and moderate learning difficulties and disabilities.
The Sheiling Special Education Trust also comprises a college and children's home which are not regulated by the Care Quality Commission.
Rating at last inspection:
Good (published 28 October 2016).
Why we inspected:
This inspection was a scheduled inspection based on the previous rating.
People’s experience of using this service:
People and relatives told us they were happy, felt safe and that staff had a good understanding of people’s needs and preferences. Staff listened to what people wanted and acted quickly to support them to achieve their goals and aspirations. Staff were innovative and looked to offer people solutions to aid their independence and develop their skills.
People had good community networks which were personal to them. This included college opportunities, therapeutic activities and supporting people to use technology to connect with family and friends. People had been supported to develop and maintain positive relationships with friends and family. Equality, Diversity and Human Rights (EDHR) were promoted and understood by staff.
Staff were well trained and skilled. They worked with people to overcome challenges and promote their independence. The emphasis of support was towards enabling people to learn essential life skills. Staff encouraged positive risk taking so people could experience new things and develop. This had led to people feeling fulfilled and living an active life.
People and their families described the staff as caring, kind, compassionate and friendly and the atmosphere of the houses as relaxed and engaging. 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.
Leadership was visible and promoted good teamwork. People, professionals and staff spoke highly about the management and staff had a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities. The registered manager, management and staff teams worked together in a positive way to support people to achieve their own goals and to be safe. Checks of safety and quality were made to ensure people were protected. Work to continuously improve was noted and the management team was keen to make changes that would impact positively on people's lives.
The service met the values that underpin the 'Registering the Right Support' and other best practice guidance such as 'Building the Right Support'. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. Also, how people with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.
A full description of our findings can be found in the sections below.
Follow up:
We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.