Archived: Brookvale Road

Updated 4 April 2020

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. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Brookvale Road is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and 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 service did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. However, the provider had appointed a new manager and they had begun the application process to register with us.. This means that 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 was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

Before the inspection we reviewed information we had received about the service since our last inspection. This information included ‘notifications’ the provider had sent to CQC. A notification is information about important events, which the service is required to send us by law. The provider had completed a provider information return (PIR) prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send to give us some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made judgements in this report.

During the inspection

We met with the three people who used the service. One person told us all about their life and what it was like to live in the home. The other people could not tell us about their care therefore, we observed the interactions between them and the support worker who was looking after them. We spoke with the manager, one support worker, and a service manager..

We looked at three people's care records, two staff recruitment files, training records, policies and procedures, and other records relating to the running of the home.

After the inspection

We spoke with one relative and their views of the service provided have been included in the main body of the report.

Updated 4 April 2020

About the service

Brookvale Road is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to three younger people with a diagnosis of a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. The property is a large family type home that has been extended and adapted to provide additional bedrooms and living space. At the time of the inspection three people used the service.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People were safeguarded from harm because the staff team had received safeguarding adults training. They knew what to do if they had any concerns regarding people or they suspected people were being harmed. Risks to people’s health and welfare were assessed and plans were in place to mitigate the risks. Staff on duty each shift were sufficient to ensure each person’s care and support needs were met. This was kept under review and adjusted as and when necessary.

Safe recruitment procedures ensured people were looked after by suitable staff. People were supported with their medicines.. Medicines were well managed and administered by staff who were trained and competent. The provider had effective infection control procedures in place.

People’s care and support needs were assessed, and a personalised support plan written, taking in to account their preferences. People were involved in creating their support plans. Staff received relevant training to enable them to meet each person’s individual care and support needs and do their job well. New recruits who joined the staff team completed an induction training programme at the start of their employment. All other staff had a mandatory refresher training programme to complete. Staff were well supported to do their job. Regular supervision sessions with a senior member of staff, to guide them with their work were being re-introduced by the new manager.

The staff team assisted people to access the healthcare services they needed but encouraged independence where possible. People were encouraged to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet but respected people’s rights to make their own food choices. People received sufficient food and drink. Any preferences people had regarding food and drink were accommodated. People were supported to develop daily living skills and make their own meals and drinks.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The staff team was small and well-established, and this meant people were supported by familiar staff. The staff were kind and caring and wanted the best for people. The interactions between people and the staff were friendly and evidenced good working relationships. People were content in their home environment.

Each person was looked after in a person-centred way. The staff knew what was important to each person. They knew when people were dissatisfied because they understood how the person acted when they were not happy. The staff understood what specific facial expressions, body language or types of behaviour meant. This information was recorded in their support plans. People were encouraged to enjoy social activities and were supported to explore new opportunities. People were supported to maintain contact with their family and friends.

A new manager had just started work at the service and was already familiar with the three people who lived at the home. The provider had systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service, to share information and to ensure the staff team kept up to date with best practice.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published November 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based upon the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.