Danbury

This report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) provides an assessment of Danbury, a residential care home. The inspection focused on how well the service supports individuals, particularly those with learning disabilities and autistic people, ensuring they receive the right support, care, and a positive culture. The findings detail the service's performance across five key areas: safety, effectiveness, caring, responsiveness, and leadership, offering a comprehensive overview for families considering the home for their loved ones.

On safety, the home ensures residents are protected from avoidable harm through staff who know residents well and understand how to safeguard them. Robust safeguarding training is in place, and risk management is handled effectively to maximise choice and minimise restrictions, with care plans meticulously updated and securely stored. The service also maintains high standards in medication management, ensuring safe administration, recording, and storage, and adheres to principles like STOMP to prevent over-medication. Infection control measures are well-implemented, keeping the environment clean and hygienic, and staff use personal protective equipment correctly. Lessons are learned from incidents through a clear reporting system and subsequent staff and management discussions, with an app for immediate incident recording.

In terms of how effective the care is, residents' support plans are personalised, reflecting their individual needs, likes, and dislikes, with clear guidance for staff on promoting independence in daily living. Staff receive comprehensive and up-to-date training relevant to supporting individuals with learning disabilities and autism, including mental health awareness and positive behaviour support, with regular supervision and appraisals to support their development. Residents are supported to maintain a balanced diet with flexible mealtimes and choices, and the environment is clean, well-equipped, and homely, although external decoration is noted as an area for improvement. Health action plans are in place to support residents' health needs, with professionals involved in their care, and staff demonstrate a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act, ensuring decisions are made in residents' best interests and documented appropriately.

Regarding the caring aspect, residents receive compassionate and kind care from staff who use positive and respectful language, demonstrating patience and attentiveness to emotional and sensory needs. Staff build strong relationships, understanding individual communication styles, and effectively include non-verbal residents in decision-making and conversations. Residents are encouraged to express their views, with staff taking time to listen and ensure they have the information needed to make choices, respecting their wishes and preferences. Privacy, dignity, and independence are promoted, with opportunities for new experiences and skill development, and staff are mindful of residents' need for personal space.

The service is responsive to residents' needs, with support plans focusing on quality of life outcomes that are regularly monitored and adapted. Care is personalised and coordinated, taking into account individual communication and sensory needs, with a relative highlighting a significant positive transformation in their loved one's well-being since moving to Danbury. Staff effectively tailor the level of support to individual needs, offering choices through appropriate communication methods, and are knowledgeable about residents' preferences.

Finally, in its leadership, the service is well-led by a registered manager who, alongside a regional manager, oversees operations effectively. There is a clear governance structure and proactive approach to identifying and addressing areas for improvement, ensuring compliance with regulations and a commitment to providing high-quality care. Staff feel supported by management and are encouraged to share concerns, contributing to a positive and safe environment for residents.