Archived: 2 Central Avenue

Updated 8 May 2019

The inspection:

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

Inspection team:

The inspection team consisted of one inspector.

Service and service type:

2 Central 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. At this inspection three people were living there.

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.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection:

This inspection took place on the 20 February 2019 and was unannounced.

What we did:

Before the inspection, we reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included details about incidents the provider must let us know about, such as abuse; and we sought feedback from the local authority and other professionals involved with the service.

We spoke with two people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with two members of staff and the registered manager. We reviewed two people’s care files and one staff recruitment file. We also looked at a sample of the service’s quality assurance systems, the registered provider’s arrangements for managing medication, staff training records, staff duty rotas and complaint records.

During our inspection visit, we spoke with two people using the service and the registered manager. Following the inspection we spoke with two members of staff. We observed the support provided throughout the service. We looked at records in relation to people who used the service including two care plans and three medication records. We looked at records relating to recruitment, training and systems for monitoring quality.

Updated 8 May 2019

About the service:

2 Central Avenue is a residential care home that provides personal and nursing care for up to four adults who have a learning disability and who may also have an autistic spectrum disorder. At the time of the inspection there were three people living at the service.

People’s experience of using this service:

• Risks to people were identified to prevent people from receiving unsafe care and support. However, not all risks for people were lessened at the earliest opportunity for their safety and wellbeing.

• Although staffing levels were not always maintained, this did not impact on people using the service.

• People received their medication as prescribed but minor improvements were required to PRN ‘as required’ protocols.

• Recruitment procedures were followed to ensure the right staff were employed but improvements were required to ensure profiles from staff employed through an external agency were sought and readily available.

• People were protected by the providers arrangements for the prevention and control of infection.

• Staff had an induction to carry out their role and responsibilities effectively. Staff had the right competencies and skills to meet people’s needs and received regular training opportunities. Suitable arrangements were in place for staff to receive regular formal supervision.

• People’s nutritional and hydration needs were met. People received appropriate healthcare support as and when needed from a variety of professional services. The service worked together with other organisations to ensure people received coordinated care and support.

• People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.

• People were treated with care, kindness, dignity and respect. People received appropriate care and support that met their needs and preferences. Staff had a good knowledge and understanding of people’s specific care and support needs and how they wished to be cared for and supported.

• Support plans were in place to reflect how people would like to receive their care and support, and covered all aspects of a person's individual circumstances.

• Social activities were available for people to enjoy and experience both ‘in house’ and within the local community.

• Arrangements were in place to assess and monitor the quality of the service provided. However, areas which required improvement were not picked up by the registered provider’s or manager’s quality assurance arrangements.

• The service sought people’s and others views about the quality of the service provided.

Rating at last inspection:

Following the last inspection the rating of the service was ‘Good’ (Last report published September 2016).

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as outlined in our inspection programme and schedule. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk