Enter and View report - Brightways and Rutwel, October 2016

Summary

Rutwel and Brightways are facilities run by Rutland County Council to provide day opportunities for adults with learning disabilities. Adults with profound and multiple learning difficulties attend Brightways while Rutwel offers a range of activities including work placements. Places at both are available by adults assessed by social care as being eligible for the service provided.

Summary finding: 

• At both Brightways and Rutwell we observed friendly staff and smiling happy looking service users. Service users told us how much they enjoyed attending.

• The location of Rutwel in Oakham town centre is good but the facilities available in that location are not of a good standard. Space is restricted limiting the equipment available to service users and restricting the use of equipment that is in place. This impacts upon activities that can be undertaken and presents privacy/confidentiality issues. It is also a significant issue during bad weather when many service users may be confined to this space.

• Brightways is in spacious modern accommodation on the edge of Oakham. General equipment is, for the most part, very good but there are issues relating to lack of equipment to aid the opening of doors and variable air extraction from personal hygiene spaces. The use of the audio equipment in the sensory room is limited due to soundproofing issues.

• It can be very time consuming to secure funding for the provision of specialist equipment.

• The service offered by the wheelchair service received considerable criticism.

• The Oakham Medical Practice and individual therapist were singled out for praise by staff at Brightways.