Inspectors give SEND care home glowing review

A care home for younger adults with special educational needs has had its rating upgraded from good to outstanding by the regulator following an inspection.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) visited Cecil Road, in Dronfield, Derbyshire, for a routine inspection in August and September.

Inspectors said staff at the home had a "brilliant understanding of autism" and were "visible, approachable and genuinely committed" to improving the lives of its six residents.

Hazel Roberts from the CQC said: "I'd encourage other services supporting autistic people and people with a learning disability to look at this report and see what they can learn."

The CQC report said staff provided a "high level of bereavement support", which helped residents talk openly and in a way they could understand.

The home had also received advanced accreditation from the National Autism Society and further invested in training to support staff and enhance the care and support they provided.

Staff said they found the training available "very comprehensive and tailored" to the specific needs of the people living in the home.

Inspectors said the team created "personalised care plans" to help people develop skills and become more independent.

Staff also adapted the environment, such as creating quieter spaces, to support people experiencing anxiety or distress and helping to improve quality of life.

The home wom praise for the way it "actively sought feedback" from families and used it to shape care plans for each resident.

Roberts said staff "reduced stress" for residents by working with health and social care professionals to keep care consistent when they moved between services.

"It was encouraging to see how staff adapted their approach to each individual rather than expecting people to fit around the service," she said.

"They picked up on subtle changes in someone's mood or behaviour and stepped in early, which meant small worries didn't turn into bigger problems.

"One person told us staff had a brilliant understanding of autism which showed the level of trust they had built."

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