Baronsmede

Baronsmede is a detached house located within Crowborough village. The service operates over two floors and had been fully adapted to meet the needs of people who lived there. People had their own bedrooms and bathrooms and shared the communal areas and garden.

The service had been open for over 30 years and therefore had not been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, inclusion and independence. People using the service received planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible to gain new skills and become independent. The provider supported people to develop skills that enabled them to have a more independent life style. Some people had successfully moved into their own accommodation, and the provider was in the process of changing the environment into a smaller residential service with separate supported living accommodation for five people.

The service was a large domestic style property. It was registered for the support of up to nine people. Eight people were using the service. This is larger than current best practice guidance. However, the size of the service did not have a negative impact on people. There was a large communal lounge, dining room and conservatory and people had their own personalised rooms. There was also a separate lounge with a kitchenette and dining area which people used to enhance their own independence. This facility enabled people to prepare their own meals and snacks and spend with friends. There was a self-contained flat upstairs that enabled people to prepare for their journey into independent living. An extension had also been built to provide a bespoke environment for one person. The building design fitted into the residential area and there were deliberately no identifying signs or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.