Seaham View

The following is CQC's published account of its assessment, published 16 July 2024. References to “we” mean CQC. It describes findings at that time.

Date of assessment 12 April to 15 May 2024. Seaham View is a care home providing accommodation and personal care to a maximum of 12 people with a learning disability. There were 11 people living at the service when we visited. A responsive assessment was carried out after concerns were received relating to staffing, medicines, nutrition, management, and dignity and respect towards people. We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence, and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, Right care, Right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgments about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it. Although the service accommodates more people than recommended in the guidance, the service was meeting the underpinning principles of ‘Right support, Right care, Right culture’. Medicines were given safely, however, some medicine documentation needed to improve. There were enough trained staff who worked with people to provide person-centred care. Systems supported people to have detailed assessments and support plans that considered their needs and wishes and promoted consistent care. Support plans gave staff guidance about how to support people’s complex needs such as around communication and managing periods of anxiety. There was a focus on independence and improving people’s outcomes. The provider worked in partnership with relatives and professionals. Staff promoted equality and diversity and encouraged people to have full lives. People had choice and control and were supported in the least restrictive way. Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. Managers were accessible and approachable. There was a robust quality assurance system to assess the standards of care and continually learn and improve.