Church Lane

This report details the findings of a recent inspection of Church Lane, a care home supporting individuals with learning disabilities and autistic people. The inspection assessed the service across five key areas: safety, effectiveness, caring, responsiveness, and leadership. The report highlights significant improvements since the previous inspection, with the service now meeting all regulatory requirements and demonstrating a commitment to providing high-quality, person-centred support. Overall, the inspectors found the service to be a positive environment where residents are respected and well cared for.

On safety, residents are protected from avoidable harm thanks to staff's good understanding of their needs and robust safeguarding procedures. Risks are well managed through thorough checks and effective emergency plans, and the home maintains appropriate staffing levels to ensure residents can participate in activities and visits. Medication management is secure, and infection control measures are consistently applied, ensuring a clean and safe environment, with relatives expressing satisfaction in these areas.

In terms of how effective the care is, residents' needs are now consistently well-assessed and their care plans are up-to-date, reflecting a deep understanding of individual requirements. Staff are well-trained and supported, enabling them to provide person-centred care that promotes positive outcomes and a good quality of life. Residents are actively involved in decisions about their meals, and the home environment is adapted to meet individual needs, with opportunities for personalizing rooms. The service also ensures residents access necessary healthcare services and are supported in making their own decisions in line with the Mental Capacity Act.

The service is caring, with staff demonstrating compassion, kindness, dignity, and respect in their interactions. Residents are treated as equals, fostering a warm and inclusive atmosphere, and staff are attentive to individual communication needs and sensory preferences. Independence is promoted, with staff ensuring privacy and providing reassurance and comfort when needed. There has been a marked improvement in how residents' dignity and privacy are respected, with staff now using respectful language and ensuring comfortable, appropriate clothing.

Regarding responsiveness, the home ensures people's preferences and aspirations are at the heart of their support. Staff actively seek to understand and fulfil residents' wishes, evident in their dedication to pursuing individual interests and goals. Communication needs are effectively met, with staff using various methods like picture cards to aid choices. The service has a clear commitment to ensuring residents can live a life of their choosing, with staff being attentive to individual needs and actively supporting their goals.

Finally, the service is well-led, with a clear vision and effective governance. The manager is actively involved in improving the service and fostering a positive culture. Staff feel supported and motivated, and there is a strong emphasis on learning from incidents to continuously improve care. While the report notes there was not a registered manager in post at the time of inspection, the overall leadership and management approach has led to substantial improvements and a positive impact on residents' lives. The service has made significant progress from its previous inspection rating.