Dove Valley Mews is a residential service in Wombwell, near Barnsley, providing outcome focused care for adults with a learning disability and associated complex needs who may have behaviours that challenge.
The service offers three apartments, a three, two and one bed apartment, totalling 6 beds. These are configured to meet the needs of the residents which includes communal living areas and an enclosed outdoor garden.
The rating follows an inspection that started on 24th January 2023 and resulted in a ‘Good’ rating in all five key lines of enquiry ‘Safe’, ‘Effective’, ‘Caring’, ‘Responsive’ and ‘Well Led’. In addition to speaking to staff the inspection team also spoke to three residents, two family members as well as external healthcare professionals and commissioners.
The full report (published on the CQC website) highlights many areas of positive practice, including:
- Residents were supported to maintain their independence and learn new skills, and this was detailed in their support plans.
- Residents had access to a range of activities both inside the home and in the community that were based on individual needs and preferences. Resident’s views about activities were gathered through reviews and regular discussions. One resident commented, “I like to play golf and I’m learning at the minute. I do weights at the gym and swimming.”
- Residents spoke positively about living at Dove Valley Mews. One person said, “Yes, like staff, yes, happy living here,” and another signed to say they were happy when asked.
- Residents had good access to physical and mental healthcare and were referred to other professionals where appropriate.
- Relatives made positive comments about the quality of care provided. Comments included, “Absolutely yes, I can talk to the manager/staff about my relative’s care; I have seen my relative’s care plan and I know they are kept up to date.”
- Staff worked well with other organisations to ensure resident’s needs were met and feedback from external professionals was positive. One commented, “The staff team are very confident and competent in supporting some of the most complex individuals. They have a wealth of experience, but the staff team are always willing to listen to advice.”
- Staff supported residents to express their views and be involved in making decisions about their care by using a range of communication aids including easy read, pictures, social stories and translation of keywords.
- Staff had undertaken specialist training to meet the individual needs of people using the service. For example, autism awareness, managing challenging behaviour and epilepsy awareness.
- Staff understood and implemented the principles of STOMP (stopping over-medication of people with a learning disability, autism or both) and ensured resident’s medicines were reviewed by prescribers in line with these principles.
Michelle Smith, Service Manager, said, “We are extremely proud and pleased with the outcome from our first CQC inspection. All of the staff here at Dove Valley Mews have worked extremely hard to reflect in our report the service’s passion and caring nature that we all as a team embed into our working environment.
“We pride ourselves in going the extra mile to ensure the residents are all supported and cared for at a high standard and we are grateful this is reflected within the CQC rating. Our number one priority is to ensure the residents at Dove Valley Mews are happy in their home environment and provide them access to tools and the community to support them to have the best quality of life.”