The Paddocks

The following is CQC's published account of its assessment, published 10 August 2026. References to “we” mean CQC. It describes findings at that time.

About the service

The Paddocks is a residential care home that was providing care and support to people with a learning disability. There were 5 people using the service at the time of the assessment.

Who the service is for

This is a specialist service for people living with a learning disability and autistic people. People who lived at The Paddocks shared a kitchen, lounge and dining area. This helped create a familiar home environment where staff support people in a more personal and flexible way.

We carried out this assessment on 29 July 2026. This service was previously rated as good. We carried out this assessment to confirm whether the rating of good remains accurate. This report does not provide detailed information on areas where we found practice continues to meet a good standard.

We assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed autistic people and people with a learning disability respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.

People received person-centred care and support from a staff team that knew them well and had developed positive, trusting relationships with them over time. Throughout the inspection, people were relaxed and comfortable in the presence of staff, seeking reassurance, interaction and support in a natural way. Staff demonstrated an understanding of people's communication needs, preferences and interests and adapted their approach to meet individual needs. Communication guidance, pictorial tools and personalised support enabled people, including those who didn't use verbal communication, to express choices and remain involved in decisions about their lives. People were supported to access meaningful activities and pursue interests, promoting independence, wellbeing and quality of life.

The service demonstrated the principles of Right Support through person-centred care planning, positive behaviour support and reasonable adjustments that enabled people to achieve positive outcomes. Care plans clearly identified desired outcomes and the support required to achieve them. Staff worked proactively with healthcare professionals and partner agencies to ensure people could access healthcare effectively. People had experienced improved outcomes. These included reduced reliance on psychotropic medicines through STOMP (Stopping over medication of people with a learning disability and autistic people), increased participation in activities and greater confidence in accessing healthcare appointments.

People can only be deprived of their liberty to receive care and treatment with appropriate legal authority. In care homes, this can be done through a procedure called the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), which is part of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). We checked whether the service was working within the principles of the MCA and how they managed DoLS within the service. We found that staff and management worked within the MCA. DoLS authorisations were appropriately applied for and overseen. People were not subject to unlawful or excessive restrictions they had choice, control and freedom over their lives.

The service promoted Right Care by ensuring risks were assessed, reviewed and managed in a way that balanced safety with people's rights and independence. Staff understood safeguarding responsibilities and demonstrated a commitment to openness, learning and protecting people from harm. People’s health needs were closely monitored, medicines were managed safely, and specialist guidance from healthcare professionals was implemented consistently. Environmental adaptations, personalised risk assessments and positive behaviour support plans helped people remain safe whilst continuing to lead active and meaningful lives.

The service reflected Right Culture through a stable, consistent and caring staff team that placed people's rights, choices and aspirations at the centre of support. Leaders and staff shared clear values focused on promoting independence, dignity, equality and inclusion. One staff member said, “(They) are very approachable and very supportive if you have any questions.” People were actively involved in decisions affecting their lives, including aspects of their home environment, activities and recruitment processes. The provider demonstrated a commitment to continuous improvement through regular auditing, partnership working and responding to feedback. Staff embraced learning and innovation to improve outcomes and reduce barriers for people. This created an inclusive culture where people were supported to have choice and control, maintain relationships and experience lives that reflected their preferences and goals.