Willow Court

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.

Although people's care and support was provided in a safe, clean, well equipped, well-furnished and well- maintained environment which met people's sensory and physical needs, the service was situated on a site which was separate to the local residential area so did not integrate well within the community. People were not kept safe from avoidable harm because unexplained injuries such as bruising and scratches were not routinely followed up and investigated to establish potential causes. The care provided was personalised despite shortfalls in the assessment and care review process. People were not always supported to identify and achieve goals and aspirations. Care plans were detailed and guided staff.

Activities were not part of people's planned care and there were limited opportunities for people to engage in person centred activities. The service had started to organise activities to improve people's quality of life.

People's communication needs were met and information was shared in a way that people could understand.

Most staff knew people well, but people sometimes received support from inexperienced staff who did not have a good understanding of their needs. The service had carried out a recent recruitment drive, which would provide a more stable workforce.

The provider had their own therapy services such as speech and language therapists who helped people maximise skills and maintain independence.

People told us they felt safe and liked living at Willow Court. Family members told us people received kind and compassionate care.

The service understood staff required training and support, but this was not always provided consistently.

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.

Medicines were managed safely and administered in a safe and caring way.

The service had systems for preventing and controlling infection. The service had only had a low level of COVID-19 infection with no deaths. The management team were proud of this achievement.

Governance systems did not ensure people were kept safe and received a high quality of care and support in line with their personal needs.

The management team were responsive to the inspection findings. They told us how they were improving their systems and processes to ensure people received safe, quality care.