CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Wolverton Court
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Outstanding
- Risks were managed through detailed assessments, positive risk-taking and close knowledge of people's triggers. Inspectors found that incidents were reviewed, lessons were acted on and medicines were managed safely.
- Effective?
- Outstanding
- Staff had training and experience suited to the people living in the home. Support helped people reduce restrictive practices, improve communication, access healthcare and achieve better health and daily living outcomes.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Inspectors saw kind and respectful relationships between staff and residents. People were supported to express their views, make decisions, maintain relationships and develop independence.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Support plans were detailed and personalised. People were helped to follow their interests, overcome anxieties, take part in community activities and work towards goals such as holidays, volunteering and visits home.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Inspectors found exceptional leadership, an open culture and strong involvement from residents, relatives and staff. Quality checks, partnership working and learning from incidents were embedded in the home.
What inspectors found, June 2019
Rated Outstanding in every area; inspectors found exceptionally safe, caring and personalised support with strong progress for residents.
This was a planned inspection on 16 April 2019. One inspector reviewed information held by the CQC, spoke with three residents, three relatives, managers and staff, observed care, and checked care, medicine, staffing and quality records.
The home supports up to six people with autism and learning disabilities who may experience high anxiety or behaviour that challenges. Inspectors found that people were treated as individuals and supported to make choices, build independence and achieve goals that had previously seemed unattainable.
People had been supported to attend busy events, take holidays, visit family, volunteer, use community facilities and reduce restrictions. Staff also worked with health professionals to improve communication, reduce incidents and safely reduce medicines.
The overall rating and all five areas were Outstanding. The previous inspection in October 2016 was also rated Outstanding.
Positive risk-taking
The home helped people take carefully planned risks so they could do more of what mattered to them, rather than simply restricting their lives.
“People were involved in developing a comprehensive and innovative approach to safeguarding, including positive risk-taking to maximise their control over their lives” from the report
Greater independence
People achieved major changes, including going out more often, visiting family, volunteering and reducing the physical restraint and restrictions they needed.
“People had been supported to live the least restrictive lives possible, with restrictions that had been in place for many years being lifted for the first time.” from the report
Personalised activities
Staff understood individual interests and anxieties and used this knowledge to support people with holidays, community activities, shopping and other personal goals.
“People lived fulfilled active lives, which impacted on reducing their previously high levels of behaviour that could challenge.” from the report
Safe medicine reduction
Medicines were reviewed and staff supported people to reduce medicines used for behaviour, with no reported adverse effects.
“People had been supported so effectively by staff, that they had successfully reduced the amount of medicines people were taking without any adverse effects on people.” from the report
Strong leadership and teamwork
The inspection found a clear person-centred culture, committed staff and systems that used reviews, audits and partnership working to improve support.
“There was a visible distinctive culture within the service, introduced by exceptional leadership and implemented by a staff team who were equally passionate about achieving the best outcomes for people.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you assess whether my relative's needs and personality are a good match with the people already living here?
- 02How do you support positive risk-taking while managing risks such as anxiety, self-harm or behaviour that could challenge?
- 03How would my relative be involved in decisions about their care if they do not communicate verbally?
- 04How do you review medicines and decide whether reductions are safe and appropriate?
- 05How would you help my relative maintain family relationships, take part in activities and work towards their own goals?
This was a planned inspection of the care home, including the premises and care provided, and it assessed all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 June 2019 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, October 2016
Rated Outstanding in every area; inspectors found people were safe, well supported and enabled to lead fuller lives.
Inspectors visited on 19 and 22 August 2016. They spent time with all six people and seven staff. They also reviewed care plans, daily records, medicines information, staff files, safety records, incidents, complaints and quality checks. They spoke with relatives and other professionals.
The home supported six people with autism and learning disabilities, including people with anxious or emotional behaviour. Inspectors found a calm and positive home where people were listened to, involved in decisions and supported to communicate their wishes. People were trying new activities, going on holiday and spending more time in the community.
All five areas were rated Outstanding: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. This is the highest rating in the report. Inspectors found enough flexible staff, safe medicines procedures, skilled support, strong relationships and detailed records. The previous inspection on 28 May 2013 found that the service was meeting the regulations.
Freedom and choice
People were supported to make decisions and take more control of their lives. Staff helped people try activities and experiences that had previously felt impossible.
“What was particularly noticeable about the service provided was the freedom that people had.” from the report
Personalised support
Staff adapted their approach to each person's communication, anxiety, preferences and goals. This helped people become more confident and reduced the need for restrictive approaches.
“People received care that was based on their needs and preferences.” from the report
Skilled staff
Staff received ongoing training, supervision and coaching. Training covered autism, learning disabilities, positive behaviour support and people's individual needs.
“All staff went through a system of training that started with introductory training to make sure they worked safely” from the report
Strong records
Inspectors found records were detailed and completed at the time. Small changes in people's wellbeing, skills and interests were used to update support.
“There were excellent, informative records that were completed at the time, so they were accurate.” from the report
Community and family links
People were supported to go out regularly, build relationships, visit family and take part in community activities.
“People were given the opportunity to contribute and become valued members of the local and wider community.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you currently support people to take positive risks while keeping them safe?
- 02How are medicines reviewed and reduced where possible, and how are people supported to understand and manage them?
- 03How often are people's care plans reviewed when their needs, anxieties or interests change?
- 04What training and supervision do staff receive for autism, learning disabilities and positive behaviour support?
- 05How are any physical interventions or other restrictions recorded, reviewed and reduced?
This was a planned inspection of the overall quality of the home and all five CQC areas; inspectors spent time with all six people and reviewed records, staff information, safety systems and feedback. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 October 2016 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk. The report was longer than we could read in one go; the later sections may not be reflected.
Every inspection of Wolverton Court
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Outstanding rating throughout.
- June 2019Outstandingcurrent ratingstayed OutstandingSafe: OutstandingEffective: OutstandingCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- October 2016OutstandingSafe: OutstandingEffective: OutstandingCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 7 January 2011.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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39 live-in carers within about an hour of Kent
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £980 to £1,260 a week. 33 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Always on time and with a lovely smile for my mum. Theresa is kind and sensitive to my mum's needs.”
“Irene was a very kind and empathetic carer who knew just the right words to say to put a smile on my face.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.