Staff at a learning disability home in Nacton Road, Ipswich are celebrating their latest Care Quality Commission report

Staff at a learning disability home in Nacton Road, Ipswich are celebrating their latest Care Quality Commission report. Wisteria House, run by the Kingsley Healthcare Group, was rated good overall and good in every category, the inspector finding the service to be safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. Home manager Ashleigh Broughton said: “We put outstanding care at the heart of everything we do and I am thrilled this has been recognised in the report. “Wisteria House really is a family and staff genuinely care. It is my philosophy that the right values and attitudes in staff from the outset are paramount to a successful service.” The report notes that staff interacted with people in a kind and caring way. They listened to what people said and people clearly shared positive relationships with the staff.   Staff assisted people during lunch where required and encouraged people’s independence when preparing their chosen meal. The inspector said: “People told us that they continued to make decisions about their care and that staff listened to what they said.  

For example, they told us that they had chosen how their bedrooms were decorated and what they had in them.” The report states that people in the home were supported to maintain important relationships with family and friends. The inspector praised the way staff supported people to maintain links with the community and undertake meaningful activities they enjoyed. “One person said they went out when they wanted to and enjoyed bowling and the cinema. On the day of our inspection people went to their day services, went out independently and with relatives and watched television,” said the inspector.  

The report notes that people chose what they wanted to eat and drink and were involved in preparing and shopping for their food. One person told the inspector: “We go to the local supermarket. We do the food and staff assist.” The inspector observed that staff assisted people when required to ensure their safety, for example ensuring people were safe when preparing lunch and that they had access to their walking frames to reduce the risk of falls. The report praises Wisteria’s open culture where people, relatives and staff were asked for their views of the service provided.  

(Picture): From left, manager Ashleigh Broughton, residents Maria Ambrose and Louise Rosix, senior support worker Sue Kelly and support worker Leah Parker.  

Find out about Kingsley's learning disability services at www.isiss.co.uk