The Cottage

The Cottage provides accommodation and personal care for up to six people with learning disabilities and/or autism. During inspection, all six places were occupied. The registered manager and senior staff demonstrated proactive risk management during the pandemic, carefully balancing infection prevention with people's wellbeing. They sought advice from local infection prevention teams to protect residents while maintaining their quality of life.

Staff developed creative approaches to support daily activities within social restrictions, including setting up a temporary shop at the provider's office so people could make their own purchases safely. They also organised virtual events such as pub quiz nights and cook-along evenings where residents tried new foods and developed cooking skills. Enhanced monitoring systems were introduced, including IT tools for remote oversight of cleaning and infection control practices, reducing the need for frequent visits to the home.