Wootton Hall Farm

Updated 21 November 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 12 and 13 October 2017 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of one inspector and an expert by experience. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this kind of service.

Before this inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also checked other information we held about the home including previous inspection reports and notifications. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

During the inspection we spoke with nine students using the service. We spoke with four family members by telephone. We also spoke with a senior manager the registered manager, the head of health and wellbeing, a registered nurse, and ten staff members.

We observed how students were supported and reviewed four students ‘Individual Learning Plans,’ treatment and support records, risk assessments and Medication Administration Records (MARs). We also looked at records relating to the management of the service including staff recruitment and training records, premises maintenance records and the provider’s quality assurance records.

Following our visit we contacted nine health and social care professionals to consult with them about their experiences of the service and the care provided to people who used the service.

Updated 21 November 2017

This inspection took place on the 12 and 13 October 2017 and was unannounced.

The Fortune Centre of Riding Therapy provides a three year residential Further Education Through Horsemastership Course for 16 to 25 year old people with learning difficulties and disabilities. Students live in a supported environment where they develop greater independence and life skills through the interaction with horses.

Wootton Hall Farm is one of three registered sites that make up The Fortune Centre of Riding Therapy. Wootton Hall Farm offers residential and learning support for up to 33 students between the ages of 16-25. WHF accommodates mainly first and second year and a small number of third year students in premises located a few miles away from the main FCRT site which is located near Bransgore. At the times of the inspection there were 24 students living at Wootton Hall Farm.

The home had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the service is run.

Students felt safe living at WHF and they were very much at the heart of the service. We received consistent positive feedback from people’s families and health professionals. People received excellent care that was based around their individual needs and that ensured care was personalised and responsive.

The risks to people were minimized through risk assessments. There were plans in place for foreseeable emergencies.

The service was responsive to people’s needs and wishes. People were able to choose what activities they took part in and suggest other activities they would like to complete. The registered manager developed and promoted community involvement. Staff knew what was important to people and encouraged them to be as independent as possible.

Relevant recruitment checks were conducted before staff started working at WHF to make sure they were of good character and had the necessary skills. Staff had received training in safeguarding adults and knew how to identify, prevent and report abuse. There were enough staff to keep people safe.

People were supported to take their medicines safely from suitably trained staff. Medication administration records (MAR) confirmed people had received their medicines as prescribed.

People received varied meals including a choice of fresh food and drinks. Staff were aware of people’s likes and dislikes and went out of their way to provide people with what they wanted.

Staff received regular support and one to one sessions or supervision to discuss areas of development. They completed a wide range of training and felt it supported them in their job role.

People were cared for with kindness and compassion. Care plans provided comprehensive information about how people wished to receive care and support. This helped ensure people received personalised care in a way that met their individual needs.

The registered manager maintained a consistently good level of communication with people through a range of newsletters and meetings. Student meetings and surveys allowed people and their families to provide feedback, which was used to improve the service. People felt listened to and a complaints procedure was in place.

There were appropriate management arrangements in place. Regular audits of the service were carried out to assess and monitor the quality of the service.