CQC rates Sheffield care home outstanding in first inspection

The Care Quality Commission has rated Collegiate House in Sheffield outstanding following its first inspection in August.

The residential care home, operated by Moorville Developments Limited, supports autistic people and people with a learning disability. Four people were living at the service when the inspection took place.

CQC rated the home outstanding across all five assessment areas: safety, effectiveness, caring, responsiveness and leadership.

Inspectors assessed Collegiate House against CQC’s right support, right care, right culture guidance, which considers whether autistic people and people with a learning disability receive support that promotes dignity, equality, choice, independence and access to their communities.

People said staff listened to them, respected their decisions and gave them control over their lives. This included supporting one person to explore their identity and allowing another the time and space needed to make decisions without being instructed.

Inspectors found leaders had developed a stable and well-trained workforce. The home did not use agency staff, while new employees completed shadow shifts before supporting people independently. This helped ensure residents received care from staff they knew and trusted.

Staff worked closely with people and their families to create personalised support plans. Changes were made in response to individual needs, including moving one person to a different room to improve their comfort and wellbeing.

Feedback also resulted in practical improvements. The home upgraded its Wi-Fi after concerns were raised and installed a gate and alarm that enabled one person to spend time alone while remaining safe.

Staff helped a person who found health appointments distressing prepare for a dental check-up using achievable goals, simple stories and regular progress reviews. This enabled them to attend an appointment they had previously struggled to manage.

Another person’s living environment was adapted to help them move around safely and independently, with equipment installed so they could request assistance when needed without losing their privacy.

The service also arranged support for one person to manage their finances and save towards experiences that were important to them, giving them greater independence and control.

Inspectors found leaders were visible within the home and regularly checked that people felt safe, were happy and participated in activities they enjoyed. This allowed potential problems to be identified and resolved quickly.

CQC said the rating reflected the home’s highly personalised approach and encouraged other care services to consider what they could learn from Collegiate House.

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