We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.About the service
Sunlight Care is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to up to a maximum of 14 people. The service provides accommodation and support to people living with learning or physical disabilities and Autism. At the time of our inspection there were 10 people using the service.
Sunlight Care is set out over two floors, with access via a lift for people who reside on the first floor. The service is set in a residential area of Nottingham, with a small accessible garden area to the rear. The home has full access for wheelchair users and has recently completed a refurbishment programme to enhance the environment.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Whilst the size of the service is larger than best practice guidance would recommend for people with learning disabilities, the service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.
Right support
Staff supported people to have the maximum possible choice, control and independence over their own lives. Staff understood people's strengths and promoted what they could do, so people experienced fulfilling everyday lives. People were provided with a safe, clean, well equipped, and well-maintained environment that met their sensory and physical needs. People were involved in personalising their rooms in the service and benefitted from the enhancement of their environment.
Staff supported people with their medicines in a safe way that promoted their independence and achieved the best possible health outcome. Staff ensured people had full access to health and social care to maintain their health and wellbeing.
Right Care
People received compassionate care from kind staff who understood and responded to their individual needs. Staff were respectful of people's privacy and dignity.
Staff understood how to protect people from potential abuse. The service worked well with other agencies to do so. Staff were trained in how to recognise and report abuse and understood their responsibility to do so. The service had a consistent skilled staff team, who met people's needs and kept them safe. Staff understood people’s individual communication needs, so people received consistent care.
Right Culture
People led inclusive lives because of the organisational values and staff qualities. People received quality care and support because sufficient numbers of skilled staff understood their specific needs. The service had enough staff, including one-to-one support for people to participate in activities and visits as part of their planned care.
People were supported by a staff team who understood the needs a person living with a learning disability and/or autistic person may have. Staff knew and understood people’s cultural preferences and were responsive to their needs. Staff ensured people received support and encouragement to be as independent as possible and fulfil their aspirations.
People told us or communicated to us they were happy living at the service. Relatives gave feedback their family members were safe living at Sunlight. The service has created a homely atmosphere, where people and staff are happy and comfortable in the company of each other.
People were protected from the risks of abuse by staff who understood their responsibilities in relation to protecting vulnerable people.
People were supported by an experienced, knowledgeable team of staff who had been recruited safely. Staff knew people well and understood how best to communicate with them in a way they could understand.
The service was clean and there were robust infection prevention and control measures in place. Staff wore appropriate personal protective equipment, adhering to the current Government guidance.
The registered manager had implemented effective checks and audits on the quality and safety of the service. When shortfalls were identified, action was taken to address these.
The service worked well in partnership with advocacy organisations and other health and social care organisations, which helped to give people using the service a voice and improve their health outcomes.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 20 March 2019)
Why we inspected
This inspection was undertaken based on the date of the previous inspection of the service.
We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.