The Goddards

Date of assessment: 10 October 2024 to 2 February 2025, including site visits on 10 and 15 October 2025, 15 January and 7 February 2025. This assessment was carried out in response to information we had received about the service. We reviewed 22 quality statements under the key questions of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led. An assessment has been undertaken of a specialist service that is used by autistic people or people with a learning disability. The Goddards - Care Home Learning Disabilities is a care home registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 14 people with learning disabilities and/or autistic people. During this latest assessment we identified areas for improvement of the quality of care provided to people. People were not always protected from abuse. Staff were able to identify, and report concerns about people's welfare. However, the management team did not always follow internal and external policies to protect people from harm. People were given their medicines safely and in a timely manner. We found the management team open and honest, and they had identified some concerns relating to staffing at the service. However, governance systems in place to manage the quality of the service were not always effective and did not support with improving the service. The registered manager was aware of some of the governance issues at the service and whilst they understood their role, they prioritised people's needs and the delivery of care. We have assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. We identified a breach of regulation in relation to governance. We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.