1 William Street, a small care home in Fenton supporting adults with autism and learning disabilities, has been upgraded to an outstanding rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following an inspection in April.
Inspectorate finds person-centred culture and responsive leadership
The CQC report notes that the service, which supports five residents, demonstrated a positive and caring culture with staff working to promote residents’ independence. Inspectors moved the provider’s overall rating from good to outstanding, recording particularly strong performance in the areas of caring and well-led.
Relatives and visiting professionals told inspectors that staff were kind, compassionate and attentive to individual needs. Residents were reported to have meaningful involvement in decisions about their support and their living environment, including choices about how communal spaces are decorated.
"During our inspection, we found leaders and staff at 1 William Street provided exceptional care built around a deep understanding of each person's individual needs, preferences and background," said Amanda Lyndon, CQC's deputy director of adult social care in the West Midlands.
The report highlights several specific examples of staff enabling improved outcomes: helping a resident re-establish contact with an important family member, and safely reducing another person's medication which led to gains in confidence and communication. Inspectors also found that when residents expressed concerns about healthcare, managers ensured their preferences were central to subsequent decisions.
Ratings breakdown
Overall, the inspection team judged the service as follows:
| Domain | Rating |
|---|---|
| Caring | Outstanding |
| Well-led | Outstanding |
| Safe | Good |
| Effective | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
Local context and practical implications
1 William Street is operated by Choices Housing Association Limited. The CQC's findings will be of interest to families seeking local provision for autistic adults and for people with learning disabilities, who often face limited options for high-quality, person-centred care in the region.
For local carers and relatives, an outstanding judgement from the regulator provides independent assurance about the quality of care and the competence of leadership. It also places the service as a benchmark for other providers in Stoke-on-Trent seeking to improve practice around dignity, involvement and personalised support.
Inspectors emphasised the role of active monitoring by managers in detecting issues and taking swift remedial action. Families considering placements may wish to ask prospective providers about:
- how residents are involved in decisions about day-to-day life and the environment;
- examples of how staff have supported better social or clinical outcomes for individual residents;
- the provider’s arrangements for oversight and how concerns are acted on.
While the service achieved outstanding marks for caring and leadership, the CQC rated other domains as good, highlighting that there remains an emphasis on maintaining standards across safety, clinical effectiveness and responsiveness.
The CQC comment from Amanda Lyndon concluded that staff at the home should take pride in the inspection findings. The report is now a public record and can be consulted by anyone considering care options in Stoke-on-Trent.
For further details and to view the full inspection report, readers should consult the CQC’s website or contact the provider directly.
