We found that the service was meeting people's needs. Risk assessments had been completed for risks routinely associated with people's health needs, such as asthma, bi polar and epilepsy. Staff confirmed they had received appropriate training and spoke knowledgably about the people they provided care to. The environment and equipment provided was fit for purpose.
We also spoke with two relatives of people living at Harkstead Barn to get their views of the service. Both relatives felt they have had "A battle" with United Response over recent months. One relative commented, 'We just wanted more consistency and transparency from the home and organisation'. Both relatives said that with the support of the 'Family Carer' [a representative from the Suffolk Family Carer's Organisation] communication between families, United Response and the managers of the service had improved. However, one relative told us that they were still concerned about the lack of transparency about their sons' expenditure.
Relatives said that the input from the family carer had been 'brilliant' and had enabled them to put forward ideas to United Response for the future use of the activities barn to benefit the people living there and to bring the community to them. Relative's comments included, Harkstead Barn is a 'Magnificent place for my son and I can't think of a better place for him' and 'I feel my son is now more content than they were' and 'I believe my son is happy'.
We spoke with two relatives of people living at the service in more depth to get their views of the service. They told us that although they have had some concerns about Harkstead Barn, 'On the face of it, it is an ideal place for their son to live and they wouldn't want to change it' and 'Overall I have been satisfied with the care at Harkstead Barns'. However, they told us that it would be 'Excellent if only they had a stable staff team'. One relative commented that, 'There appears to be a lot of, sickness absence'. However they said, if they can get the 'Care right and new staff settled, it will be a great service'. They stated that their son was 'Very vulnerable' and will agree with anything so it is up to the staff to really get to know him and his needs and wishes. A second relative described themselves as 'Generally happy with the care', however they told us that their son had severe learning difficulties and severe challenging behaviour and that the recent staff changes had, 'Affected their son' as they do not like change. They spoke at length about being unable to find out why there had been an 'Almost total turnover of staff over the last six to nine months'. They told us that they had listed 38 different staff that had been involved in the care of their son in that time and that the high turnover of staff, with some leaving quite suddenly, had worried 'All of the families'. They told us that they hoped in time that the new staff would 'Find their feet'.
Both relatives told us that there has been a lack of transparency and engagement from the management team at the service. One relative commented 'It's like a secret society; we have been kept in the dark about one or two very important matters, which needed sorting out'. Both family members spoken with repeated that they have had concerns about the lack of involvement with families, staffing issues and the use of the activities barn. Relatives were clear, that they felt there has been no sense of 'Working in partnership'. One relative commented, 'If management could be more open with parents, then their son couldn't be in a better place'.
Both parents stated that they were concerned about the closure of the well equipped activities room. They had personally raised a considerable amount of money to provide a leisure facility on site and were concerned that this had been replaced with community activities.