Northumberland Road

Prior to January 2015, Northumberland Road was part of a 'shared lives' scheme. These are designed to support adults with a range of needs who are unable to live on their own. The scheme matches a person with care needs, with a carer who provides care and support to them and shares their family home and community life with the person. The provider had to change their registration because they wished to support four people. Once more than three people are supported in one location, the location operates as a care home. However, the provider's ethos continued to be that they supported people as part of their family. The home was run by the registered manager and they employed one member of care staff part time.

People's experience of using this service:

Northumberland Road has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin Registering the Right Support, Building the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

People told us that they were happy living at Northumberland Road and were supported by the registered manager and the staff member, who were kind, caring and supportive. Risk assessments managed risks within people's lives and the registered manager and staff member knew how to keep people safe from those risks.

People's dietary needs, preferences and nutritional needs were assessed and known by the registered manager and staff member and when needed. People were referred to other professionals to support their healthcare needs. People received their medicines safely.

The registered manager and staff member had training in relevant subjects and they knew their roles and responsibilities, such as safeguarding people from poor practice.

People continued to have 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 practice.

The registered manager and staff member, knew people well and supported people in line with their care plan. Care plan records were reviewed regularly and were person centred.

People pursued opportunities to engage in activities and interests of their choice and were supported to be as independent as they wanted to be.

The registered manager completed quality assurance checks, and these had been reviewed by the local authority who had no recommendations.

We found the service met the characteristics of a "Good" rating in five areas. For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk.