About the service:

Paul Clarke Home is a residential care home, providing accommodation and personal care. This service supported people with learning disabilities and/or autism. The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties. It was registered for the support of up to nine people. Seven people were living at the service though one was in hospital at the time of the inspection. 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 into the residential area. Accommodation was provided in one residential house with a garden.

People’s experience of using this service:

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support. 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.

Improvements were required to systems and processes in place to ensure that quality and safety was monitored and any areas for improvements were identified and acted on swiftly.

Staff knew the people that lived at the home well and knew how to safely meet their needs. However, there were gaps in staff training and the provider had not monitored this effectively or acted swiftly to ensure the right training was available to staff. Staff did feel well supported and had access to regular supervision and support.

We have made a recommendation about recruitment procedures.

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.

People’s independence was supported and encouraged.

People felt safe and happy. They had choices and were supported to communicate effectively and express their views, which were listened to. Staff knew people well and catered for their preferences. Care plans were personalised and gave staff the information they needed to safely meet people’s needs.

Staff treated people with kindness and there was a positive, inclusive atmosphere in the home. People and staff had good relationships.

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 time the service has been inspected under this registration.

Why we inspected: This was a scheduled inspection based on the time since the service first registered with us.

Enforcement: Please see the ‘action we have told the provider to take’ section towards the end of the report.

Follow up: We will seek an action plan from the provider to show us how they will become compliant and by when. We will continue to monitor the service and inspect again within 12 months of the publication of this report.