Membership review for 24 Ryegate Road

The membership review is intended to reflect the experiences of the visitor who might be looking for a placement.

The review is subjective, consistent and impartial, representing the impressions of our team member on the day of the visit. It is a snapshot view only. The contents of this review are intended to cover some of the subjects and issues which an individual, their relatives or their placement officer might ask.

In the interests of confidentiality Living Autism officers do not have access to person-nel files or care plans.

This review has been published with the written agreement of the home owner, or an authorised representative of the company.

‘The relationship between staff and young people was observed to be really positive and from speaking to the staff it was clear they had developed good understanding of how to work with and support each individual.’

Summary of Findings

Moorville is a residential service for adults with autism.  It is registered for six people and on the day of the visit 5 people were residing there. Moorville had a warm and homely atmosphere and the Director and staff were friendly and welcoming.

The home was very spacious, clean and well equipped and the staff had an appreciation of autism and demonstrated they knew the individuals that they were working with very well.

Introduction

The building looked impressive form the outside and looked like a large family home with a good sized garden situated in a quiet residential area next door to a specialist NHS centre.  It is a short bus ride into the city of Sheffield and, in the other direction, a 10-minute car journey into the countryside. There were plans to develop the service with two adjoining semi-independent flats and also a supported living service literally down the road, the aim being to create a real pathway to independence.

First Impressions

I had visited Moorville on several occasions previously and it is easy to find. It is on the outskirts of Sheffield and although only a few miles outside the city centre, it is in a very quiet area. The reception area was modern, clean and welcoming and there was a signing in book.  The décor throughout was in fairly neutral colours.

I was met by Moorville’s Director, Ciro Cancello, and Senior Support Worker, Deirdre Boulding, who took me through to the office where they kindly took some time to discuss how Moorville was developing.

The Environment (External)

The front of the house was given over to parking and had space for maybe 4 cars at a push. Parking was also usually available on the street. At the rear of the building the garden was on several levels, the neighbourhood being quite undulating. There were areas for sitting and there were mature shrubs. Individuals who reside at Moorville were encouraged to get involved with keeping the garden tidy and to assist in growing plants and other gardening activities. The outdoor area was very well designed and looked great.

The Environment (Internal)

All areas were spacious, stylish and comfortable. To the rear of the house was a large conservatory extending the full width of the building and overlooking the back garden. The kitchen was large, well equipped and open plan with the dining room.  Leading from this was a large lounge with a smaller snooker room adjoining. The bedrooms and en-suites were very large and some had room for sitting areas with armchairs or sofas. Each bedroom was lockable and where appropriate the residents had a lockable safety deposit box.

The en-suites had both a shower or wet room and a bath.  

A large indoor swimming pool took up a large part of the ground floor.  This was kept locked when not in use and all sessions were supervised. Ciro Cancello stated that the pool was well used and individuals got a lot from being in the water. Leading from the pool area was a changing area with showers and a room containing a hot tub with coloured LED’s.

Moorville had a designated maintenance person who came in one day a week. Essential maintenance was carried out quickly by a local company.

The Wider Environment

As previously mentioned Moorville is situated in a quiet residential area which is, however, close to Sheffield City Centre. A short walk down to the college/university campus enabled connection with the trams into the city. There was good access via public transport both to the city and the countryside. There were a variety of activities and attractions in and around Sheffield. One young man attended a local college twice a week and several individuals had spent time gaining work experience at local garden centres.

The home had its own people-carrier for transporting individuals although staff tried to get young people to use public transport where possible as part of a daily living skill.

Understanding Autism 

All staff received autism training from Angela Austin from Autism Spectrum Solutions.

Staff seemed very much aware of the difficulties which could be experienced by people with autism.  

Staff discussed with me how they managed one individual’s anxieties and unrealistic expectations and this seemed to have been handled really sensitively.

The staff encouraged individuals living at Moorville to contribute to all decision making relating to their care as far as they are able.

When a referral to Moorville was made, the Director and Registered Manager met with the individual’s family, carers and professionals to gather as much information as possible to form the basis of the care plan. The transition period was varied according to the needs of the individual. A key-worker was eventually assigned to the individual after an initial period to see whom they might develop a rapport with. Care plans were reviewed 6 monthly with external parties and in-house more frequently.

Individuals were encouraged to participate in food preparation, shopping and cleaning activities within the level of their abilities. 

Health and Wellbeing 

Menus were planned with the residents for the month ahead and every effort was made to encourage the residents to eat a well-balanced diet. Moorville did however have a take-away evening, usually on a Friday.

A local health centre provided medical cover and the staff reported that the GP and his team had been very supportive to the needs of the individuals with autism.  A local dentist visited the home if attending appointments was too traumatic for an individual.

Boots chemist provide training on the safe storage and administration of medications and these were all kept in a locked drug cabinet within the staff office.

Individuals living in the home

Four out of five individuals living in the home on the day I visited for this review had Asperger’s Syndrome or Higher functioning autism. One individual was more profoundly autistic and additionally had Fragile X syndrome and a learning disability. His needs were managed slightly differently as was appropriate, as he required a more controlled environment and a level of personal care. He had his own day space on the ground floor where his care could be managed giving him privacy and without impacting adversely on the other individuals.

I spoke to a couple of the individuals who resided at Moorville and I explained who I was and my reason for visiting. They were very much getting on with their daily activities. The relationship between staff and young people was observed to be really positive and from speaking to the staff it was clear they had developed good understanding of how to work with and support each individual.

It was hoped that some individuals would be able to move on to supported living packages. 

Staffing

All staff recruited had to provide satisfactory references and Disclosure and Barring Service checks (DBS).They were not allowed to work unsupervised until these were received.

There was a pool of bank staff to call upon to maintain continuity in case holidays or sickness depleted the team. Many former members of the ‘bank staff’ have become fully fledged team members.

All staff received a copy of the handbook which contained copies of the most relevant policies and procedures. Parents and residents also received a handbook containing information about the service and its ethos.

Induction training consisted of First Aid, Food Hygiene, Fire Safety, Safeguarding, Moving and Handling. Autism training, which was delivered by Angela Austin from Autistic Spectrum Solutions. Staff seemed very much aware of the difficulties which can be experienced by people with autism.  

All staff were supervised on a monthly basis by the Registered Manager. Either the Registered Manager or Director were available most of the time as they were included in shift rotas and staff had regular access to either Ryan or Ciro at any time if they had issues to discuss. 

Management of the Home

Staff at all levels had a very “hands on” approach whereby all jobs were shared as far as possible., The Director and Registered Manager were both timetabled in to the staff shifts. There was a relaxed and friendly atmosphere within the home and great emphasis is placed on maintaining a family style environment.

Individuals were encouraged to develop relationships if they chose and support and education was offered when required.

Ryan West, the Registered Manager had several years’ experience in managing residential care facilities.

I asked Director Ciro Cancello about the key developments for Moorville over the last two years. He felt that increasing the service to having five individuals residing at Moorville whilst maintaining the equilibrium of the service was a real achievement and he felt that the staff group had developed into an excellent team. Ciro felt what made Moorville unique was the quality of the building, the environment and the continuity of care, Moorville had a low staff turnover and did not use agency staff.

The policies and procedures manual was comprehensive the only thing I thought might have been a good addition was a policy regarding use of the internet and social media. There could actually be two elements to that; one relating to individuals living at Moorville and one relating to staff.

Moorville had a no restraint policy although staff had received training in breakaway techniques.

Conclusion

Moorville provided an autism-focused, homely environment. Great care had been taken to ensure that the equilibrium of the home was maintained. I would see Moorville as an excellent solution for an individual or individuals with autism or Asperger’s Syndrome and some potentially complex additional needs. It may not be the ideal service at the time of visiting for individuals who might persistently challenge the environment and or staff and peers due to the effects that could have on the individuals already residing at Moorville.

The staff team were very dedicated, the home itself quite luxurious and provided an excellent environment for the individuals residing there.

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Visiting Officer - Craig Godding
Director of Operations, Living Autism