Quality Checker Report: OLPA

Healthwatch Wiltshire and Wiltshire People First carried out a Quality Checker visit to OLPA, a residential care home for adults with learning disabilities in Bradford-on-Avon, on 1 September 2015. The home supported three residents, all of whom participated in discussions with the visiting team during the one-hour visit. Staff were present to provide support where needed but encouraged residents to speak for themselves. 

The visiting team found the service to be accessible and well adapted to residents’ needs. The property had a ramp and handrails at the entrance, and a ground-floor bedroom with an accessible ensuite bathroom had been built to meet the changing mobility needs of one resident. The home also made good use of accessible information, including pictorial menus and easy-read materials covering subjects such as illness, end-of-life care, and visits to healthcare professionals. 

Staff were observed to be friendly, respectful, and attentive. The quality checkers noted that staff listened carefully to residents and responded to individual needs. During the visit, one resident asked to speak privately with a member of staff and was immediately taken to a quiet area so that her concerns could be heard, demonstrating a person-centred approach. 

Residents were treated with dignity and respect and were given meaningful opportunities to make decisions about their lives. They were able to choose the décor of their bedrooms, decide what activities they wanted to take part in, select meals through house meetings, help with shopping and food preparation, choose their clothes, and participate in discussions about outings and trips. Residents also had the option of locking their rooms to maintain privacy. 

The report found strong evidence that residents had active and varied lives. They attended different clubs and activities such as swimming, coffee clubs, and community groups, and staff regularly supported spontaneous outings to places including the pub, theatre, cinema, and local events. Residents also enjoyed positive relationships with neighbours and were involved in local social activities. 

The quality checkers highlighted several examples of good practice. Staff prepared residents carefully for appointments such as visits to the doctor or dentist by discussing what would happen in advance, using easy-read materials where appropriate, and even arranging practice visits. Personalised visual prompts and reminders were used to support independence, such as a notice board in one resident’s room outlining their morning routine. 

Residents spoke positively about living at OLPA and appeared to have strong relationships with staff. The environment was described as spacious, attractively decorated, and offering a range of communal and private areas. The home's recent extension demonstrated a commitment to supporting people to remain in familiar surroundings rather than moving elsewhere when their needs changed. 

Overall, the quality checkers concluded that OLPA provided a high-quality service where residents were respected, supported to make choices, and enabled to lead active and fulfilling lives. They felt the staff were committed to residents’ wellbeing and independence, and both quality checkers stated that they would be happy to live there themselves. No recommendations for improvement were identified.