Sycamore Hall

Sycamore Hall provides personal care to people in their own homes. The service also provides personal care to people living at Kirkwood Hall in Leyburn. Both services are carried on and managed from the Sycamore Hall location.

The service can be provided to adults over 18 years, older people, people living with dementia or mental health difficulties, physical disabilities, autistic spectrum disorder or people with sensory impairments. At the time of our inspection, the service was providing care for 44 people.

This service provides care and support to people living in specialist 'extra care' housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built or adapted single household accommodation in a shared site or building. The accommodation is rented, and is the occupant's own home. People's care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for extra care housing; this inspection looked at people's personal care and support service.

People using the service at Sycamore hall lived in apartments. The Kirkwood Hall facility had apartments and bungalows that were situated in the grounds.

Sycamore Hall has a room reserved for people from the community who need additional support following discharge from hospital or to prevent them from being admitted to hospital. Kirkwood Hall has two of these rooms. These are known as step up / step down beds. Health professional's work alongside staff to ensure people who require this level of support have their needs met.

The service did not have a registered manager. The previous registered manager left in May 2017. The manager in charge of the service had applied to be registered.

At the last inspection, the service was rated good. At this inspection, we found the service remained good.

People were protected from harm by staff that recognised the signs of abuse and were confident to raise concerns. Care plans and risk assessments were in place and there was enough staff to safely provide care and support people.

There were safe recruitment processes to prevent unsuitable staff working with vulnerable people. The administration of medicines was well managed and people received support from health professionals when required.

People were supported to have maximum 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.

Arrangements were made for people to see health professionals when they needed to and to have a healthy balanced diet to promote their wellbeing.

The care and support people received was person centred to meet individual needs. Staff were kind, treated people with dignity and respect and were sensitive to their needs regarding equality, diversity and their human rights as their choices and preferences were respected.

People's independence was promoted and they were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives.

The service was well-led. Staff said the management team were approachable and supportive and there were good working relationships with health and social care professionals. The safety and quality of support people received was monitored and the provider completed quality assurance audits to drive continuous improvement of the service.

Feedback systems were in place where the views of people and relatives were sought. People were given information on how to raise a complaint should they choose to do so.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found