Caradon

On this page

• Overview
• Kindness, compassion and dignity
• Treating people as individuals
• Independence, choice and control
• Responding to people’s immediate needs
• Workforce wellbeing and enablement

Through observation we noted people were treated well and people were able to express their individuality and staff respected their choices. We observed people being included in every activity, and staff equally engaged to make it a more enjoyable experience. A family member we spoke to told us that the staff and management at Caradon had "managed his transition with care and dignity, and I could no think of a more perfect home for him". Staff accepted that people sometimes demonstrated behaviours that challenge, but staff wanted to learn from this and find out how they could support people better. People dressed individually and staff were able to anticipate their needs and ensure these were met appropriately. Support was designed around each individual and staff said people could influence who worked with them. The service had an electronic care planning system and people’s needs were clearly documented and reviewed in line with peoples needs and risks.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

Through observation we noted people were treated well and people were able to express their individuality and staff respected their choices. We did not observe any coercive behaviour or control and staff described how they tried to anticipate people’s behaviour and de-escalate behaviours that challenge appropriately. People appeared comfortable with staff. One family member told us that after several difficult respite placements, they were unsure they would find the right placement for their relative. However, they were very happy he had settled at Caradon, and that came down to the care given by the staff and management team.

Staff were open and willing to talk to us, take on feedback and showcase what they were doing. They spoke enthusiastically about their roles and said, "best job I ever had.’ ‘brilliant.’ ‘Like getting the best out of people". A staff member told us how much they enjoyed spending time with people and supporting them. Staff were complimentary about their working environment, other staff, stating it was a strong team and the management who they described as very approachable. A healthcare professional told us "When I have visited Caradon, the staff supporting residents always seem to be happy and open to having conversations with visiting professionals. In other settings I have found support staff try not to make eye contact for fear of being asked a question! To me this suggests the support staff at Caradon are comfortable, confident, and feel part of a team who can share any worries, concerns that they might have. To create an environment like this for staff, it would suggest that they have a good leadership team around them".

A healthcare professional told us " All cohorts of staff engaged with showed a passion for working with those with Learning Disabilities and ensuring they had a fulfilling and engaging life, with residents working towards or achieving their desired goals". The service has worked hard to create a very “homely” feel and residents were observed looking happy and content. Both management and care staff have been observed to demonstrate kindness and compassion even when managing behaviours that challenge.

Staff were patient and staff made connections with people talking about things they were interested in and what they had been doing. Staff appeared kind and enjoyed spending time with people. Staff told us that sometimes people got upset but they were confident they could help calm people down without restraint or the needs for medicines. During the Short Observation For Inspection (SOFI), we saw staff actively changing their communication and engagement style in line with the changing moods of people.

People indicated through body language and spoke that they were okay, and that staff were treating them well. People dressed individually and staff were able to anticipate their needs and ensure these were met appropriately. People were observed moving around freely with appropriate support and being able to make choices suitable for their needs. One person told us they loved Friday which signified the end of day centre and being able to see parents.

Staff and managers alike spoke of person centered care and said about their training and development which helped them understand peoples needs. They told us throughout the development of the service people had been supported at their own pace and care plans were reviewed and any changes in need were addressed through the involvement of others. Staff spoke about one person whose placement had been put at risk due to their behaviour but how they had managed to work with others to rule out issues which could be contributing to their behaviour and develop clear plans for staff working with the person.

Support was designed around each individual and staff said people could influence who worked with them. The manager told us people were not directly involved in staff interviews but said new applicants would be observed in their interactions with people as part of the interview process.

There were clear audits to ensure people care, their environment and their social support remained appropriate. Through social worker teams appropriate assessments were undertaken and reviewed.

People were being supported to try new experiences and staff had ambition for people but recognised that people needed time to settle. People were observed doing different activities and the scrap books on the table showed people enjoying a range of activities and celebrating different events which were both stimulating and culturally diverse.

A relative told us that their family member was supported to make their own choices especially around what they wear. Staff were observed to be supporting people to achieve things for themselves.

We saw staff supporting a person to plant seeds in the garden. There was a lot of positive communication with people and staff told us that it gave them a greater sense of achievement supporting people to achieve their goals.

The management team had created an atmosphere where active support was the norm, and staff supported people to do, rather than do for them. A person came up to us with rocks they had been supported to paint, and had a big smile on their face.

Staff interacted well with people, and we could see that the the residents trusted the staff to understand their needs. We observed people going up to staff and staff, and initiating communication around their needs. People had key workers in place and the manager explained that it was a dynamic process, and the key worker would change based on the preferences of the person and the relationships they might build with certain staff.

Staff we spoke to felt that they were making positive change in the lives of people. One staff told us "I have seen such a positive progress in all of the residents too and that is a huge part of what makes my job so special." We also had feedback from a healthcare professional that "They were proactive in obtaining the necessary pre admission information, to embed into their care planning and ensure safe care".

We completed a SOFi as part of our assessment and we observed staff responding to changes in the mood of people. We observed the Manager and deputy being active role models and working with staff and people during our observation. there was good communication between the staff and the people supported.

Staff we spoke to felt that they were well supported by the management team, and were given the confidence to work with people to achieve their goals. Staff were very open to speaking to us and felt proud of their place of work. Staff told us of the well being board, and all the planned activities for staff and people. There was a daily well being walk which staff looked forward to. One staff told us "I have never worked in a job where I have been made to feel as part of a team as quickly as I have at Caradon, and I really enjoy working there. Since starting they have helped me progress and everyone is always listened to and respected". We also received feedback from external professionals. one told us " When I have visited Caradon, the staff supporting residents always seem to be happy and open to having conversations with visiting professionals. In other settings I have found support staff try not to make eye contact for fear of being asked a question! To me this suggests the support staff at Caradon are comfortable, confident, and feel part of a team who can share any worries, concerns that they might have. To create an environment like this for staff, it would suggest that they have a good leadership team around them"

A robust recruitment process was followed and we could see that the service had taken time to recruit the right staff. The service was fully staffed and agency use was rare. The management team celebrated the diversity withing the team, and respected people's cultural and spiritual beliefs. Staff training was up to date and we saw evidence of staff supervisions and team meetings.