17 York Avenue

17 York Avenue is a residential care home that provides accommodation and personal care to up to four people. The service provides support to people with a range of needs including learning disability, mental health and physical disabilities. At the time of our inspection, there were four people living at the service.

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

The service had simple paper-based care records. Staff assessed people’s risks and needs and drew up care plans to address them. However, we found some gaps and inconsistencies in the records, for example, some lacked dates, some had not been updated and some of the templates used were inappropriate. People’s self-medication care plans lacked detail about the support needed from staff, and staff did not always review risk assessments when medicines changed. The manager started to address these issues immediately.

Most of the home was clean and tidy but there were stains and coatings of grease on the kitchen cupboards and some appliances. Staff started to address this during our inspection. The décor in the care home’s communal areas and in one bedroom needed updating. The provider shared their plans for redecorating and refurbishing the communal areas of the home but these plans did not include people’s bedrooms as the provider did not think this was their responsibility. We have made a recommendation in relation to the standard of décor in the home and the provider clarifying their responsibilities for the premises.

Some people administered their own medicines. Staff followed systems and processes to safely administer, record and store medicines for those people they supported fully with their medicines. The service had a stable staff team and enough staff to meet the needs of people all of whom had low support needs. People received support to live full and active lives as independently and safely as possible and to pursue their interests, aspirations and goals. Most people had full weekly schedules that included voluntary work, social events, family visits, day centre attendance and daily living activities. People took part in activities that were culturally relevant to them.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.

The service had a positive culture that focused on person-centred care and meaningful outcomes for people. People had the maximum possible choice, control and independence over their own lives. People’s care records showed what support each person needed to make their own decisions and choices.

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

Rating at last inspection

The rating at the last inspection was Good, (published on 21 March 2019).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to monitor the service and will take further action if needed.

We have identified a breach in relation to good governance associated with care records. We have made recommendations relating to the standard of décor in the home and the provider's responsibility for the premises.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.