Peter House

This report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) provides an overview of Peter House, a residential care home for individuals with learning disabilities, autism, and potential mental health conditions. The inspection assesses how well the service supports residents in various aspects of their care and daily lives. Overall, the inspection identified areas where improvements are needed across all assessed domains, highlighting the ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of care and living environment for the seven residents currently supported by the home.

Regarding safety, the report notes that while some environmental updates have been made, particularly in communal areas aiming for a more homely feel, outside spaces remain unsafe and inaccessible for those with mobility issues, a concern that has persisted across multiple inspections. There were also instances where identified environmental issues, like a faulty fire door, were not promptly addressed, and a hygiene issue with a drinking tap required immediate attention.

In terms of effectiveness, the care and support plans for residents were found to be significantly out of date and not always consistently reviewed to reflect current needs, which has led to a breach of regulations regarding person-centred care. While staff demonstrate a good understanding of residents' needs and individual preferences are respected in their personal spaces, there's a need to better involve residents and their families in the development of care plans and the service itself.

On the aspect of caring, staff are noted to know the residents well and are generally responsive to their needs, supporting them to be as independent as possible and offering choices. Residents' personal spaces are described as homely and reflective of their personalities. However, the effectiveness of care is impacted by the outdated care plans, meaning care may not always be fully aligned with the most current individual needs.

Concerning responsiveness, the service has made progress in improving transport availability for community access, which was a previous concern. The recruitment of an activities member of staff is underway to ensure more meaningful and engaging daily activities that are tailored to individual goals. However, the lack of up-to-date care plans suggests that the service is not always fully responsive to the evolving needs of the residents.

Finally, concerning how well-led the service is, the registered manager has a clear vision for empowering and inclusive care, with a newly appointed deputy manager working to implement necessary changes. While improvements have been made, particularly in the well-led domain compared to previous inspections, the service continues to face challenges in consistently addressing identified issues promptly and ensuring all care records are up-to-date, which are crucial for effective leadership and resident safety.