Archived: 3 Hainault Avenue

Updated 5 December 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This comprehensive inspection was undertaken by one inspector on 4 October 2018 with a follow up visit on 16 October 2018. The provider was given 24 hours' notice because the service was a small care home where the person was often out during the day and we needed to be sure that someone would be in.

Before the inspection, we reviewed the Provider Information Return (PIR) that the registered manager had submitted to us. This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also looked at information that we had received about the service including statutory notifications. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.

During the inspection process, we spoke with the registered manager and two staff working in the service. We were unable to speak with the person using the service, therefore we used other means to obtain their views, for example, reviewing minutes of meetings they had attended and looking at past satisfaction surveys they had completed. We also provided the person with a questionnaire which they filled in. This helped us to find out how the person felt about the service they received. As part of our inspection we also looked at the person’s care plan and other documents relating to the management of the service including staff records, minutes of meetings and quality assurance audits.

Updated 5 December 2018

This comprehensive inspection was carried out on 4 and 16 October 2018 . The inspection was announced as 3 Hainault Avenue is a small care home and we wanted to be sure that someone would be in when we inspected. The service is registered to provide accommodation with personal care for one person with a learning disability. At the time of our inspection one person was using the service.

At the last inspection the service was rated as ‘Good'. At this inspection we found the service remained good.

3 Hainault Avenue is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The premises where care and support was provided had been adapted to meet the persons needs and was situated in a quiet residential area close to all local amenities.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. "People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.” Registering the Right Support CQC policy.

There was a registered manager in post who was also the registered manager for another service owned and operated by the provider. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are 'registered persons'. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Risks to the person had been identified with management plans in place to provide guidance to staff. There were sufficient staff employed who had been safely recruited. Staff were aware of risks to the person and knew what to do to keep them safe. Staff had received training in safeguarding and could identify abuse and knew how to report concerns.

Medicines were safely stored, recorded and administered in line with current guidance to ensure the person received their prescribed medicines safely. Staff had received training in infection control and the home environment was clean and hygienic.

Staff received training, supervision and support to be competent in their role. The service supported the person to access healthcare services to maintain their physical and mental health and wellbeing. The person was supported to have enough to eat that met their health needs and preferences.

The service was meeting the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). The person was supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Staff were caring and respectful of the person’s privacy and dignity. Independence was promoted and encouraged and the person was assisted to maintain relationships that were important to them.

The person’s needs had been holistically assessed and they received personalised care tailored to them. The person led a full life and was supported to participate in a range of activities of their choosing. The person was supported to express any concerns and information was made available in easy read format to support understanding.

The service was well led. The registered manager was supportive and accessible and had introduced some positive changes since being in post. The person’s and staff views were invited and listened to in order to improve the service. Quality assurance systems and processes were in place to monitor the safety and effectiveness of the service.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.