Taigh Aisling

The care home has two floors and six bedrooms. Each person had their own bedroom and there are five bedrooms with en-suite facilities. People also had access to a shared dining room, a communal bathroom, two lounges, kitchen and a large garden.

We found the following examples of good practice.

The service had easy read information in communal areas with pictures of people wearing face masks. This ensured that people living in the service were informed of current practice and also reinforced that staff now wore masks to support them.

Every person living at the service had a Covid-19 risk assessment. This included information staff needed to ensure people could maintain their relationships through safe socially distanced visits, and the use of technology to see friends and family.

Each person had a Covid-19 isolation plan should they become symptomatic or receive a COVID-19 positive test result. This informed staff of the areas in the building which only this person would have access to. It also included staffing plans to ensure continuity of care and reduce the number of people accessing the isolated area.

The service was extremely clean and hygienic.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

Taigh Aisling is a residential care home providing personal care and support for a maximum of six people with learning disabilities and autism. At the time of the inspection there were four people living at the service.

The care home has two floors and six bedrooms. Each person had their own bedroom and there are five bedrooms with en-suite facilities. People also had access to a shared dining room, a communal bathroom, lounge, kitchen and large garden with equipment people could use including a trampoline.

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.

The service was registered for the support of up to six people. This was in line with current best practice guidance. 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 and what we found

People were supported to be safe as staff had been recruited safely and trained to understand each person's communication methods. Risks were identified and managed well. One relative said, “Getting [family member’s] medicines right was key to their safe care. It is a gradual process though.” People were supported by enough staff with the right skills to meet their needs. Staff applied their knowledge of safeguarding well and were confident to report concerns. People were supported with their medicines including reducing medicines where safe to do so. Lessons were learned when things did not go quite so well and actions taken were effective.

People were able to access food and drink when they wanted. Staff understood people’s dietary needs including those associated with religious beliefs and values. People had choice and staff supported them to access a range of health and social care professionals. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

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.

People, their relatives and advocates were fully involved in all decisions about people’s care and support. Staff treated people kindly, with compassion and respect. Staff supported people with their communication needs to enable people to have a voice and make choices. Staff listened to what people told them.

Concerns were acted on before they became a complaint. Staff understood when a person was unhappy about something and resolved this to the person's satisfaction. Policies, information and procedures were in place should any person require end of life care.

The registered manager had in their short time in post already implemented many changes. These included the environment and care practices, meaning people experienced more personalised support and a homelier atmosphere. This was achieved with lots of pictures, photographs, homely items, furnishings and adaptations which helped keep people and the premises safe. Staff were supported in their role. The provider worked well with others to help ensure joined up care.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This is the first inspection of the service since it was registered in November 2018.

Why we inspected

This was a routine planned inspection.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.