The Oaks & Woodcroft

The Oaks and Woodcroft are two residential bungalows providing personal care for up to 12 people with a learning disability, mental health needs, physical disabilities, and autistic people. At inspection, six people lived in each bungalow.

Inspectors found that shared facilities between the bungalows limited people's choices and independence. Although each bungalow had its own kitchen, Woodcroft's fridge was nearly empty, and staff accessed food from The Oaks instead, meaning residents relied on staff to anticipate their needs rather than making independent choices. People and staff moved between bungalows without using front doors, and at least one resident used the bathroom at the other bungalow, raising privacy concerns. One bungalow housed men and the other women; given past sexual safety concerns, this arrangement required careful consideration. Staff did not consistently support people in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests, and service policies and systems did not enable this practice.