Background to this inspection
Updated
22 June 2022
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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.
Inspection team
Two Inspectors, a member of the CQC medicines team and an Expert by Experience carried out the inspection. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Service and service type
1 The Avenue Knaresbough is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. 1 The Avenue is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with one person who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. People who used the service who were unable to talk with us used different ways of communicating including sign language.
We spoke with six members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, three support workers and the head of residential services for homes together.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and four medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
Updated
22 June 2022
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.
About the service
1 The Avenue Knaresborough, is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to four people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to five people. 1 The Avenue Knaresborough is a detached house with bedrooms and shared communal spaces across three floors.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Right Support
¿ The service (or staff) supported people to have the maximum possible choice, control and independence be independent and they had control over their own lives.
¿ People were supported by staff to pursue their interests, take part in activities and pursue their interests in their local area and interact with people who had shared interests.
¿ Staff enabled people to access specialist health and social care support in the community and play an active role in maintaining their own health and wellbeing.
¿ Staff communicated with people in ways that met their needs.
¿ People and their family members told us they were happy with the care they received and felt safe.
Right Care
¿ People received kind and compassionate care.
¿ Staff protected and respected people’s privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to their individual needs.
¿The service had enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe.
¿ People could communicate with staff and understand information given to them because staff supported them consistently and understood their individual communication needs.
We witnessed effective communication preventing emotional distress.
¿ People who had individual ways of communicating, using body language, sounds, pictures and specific sign language could interact comfortably with staff and others involved in their care and support because staff had the necessary skills to understand them.
¿ A relative told us, “They’re very happy there, if they wasn’t happy, I would speak up.
It’s a lovely place and a well-run house. They have their own life and own way of life; staff look after them and help but won’t carry them. They know where we are and can get in touch whenever. They’re happy and staff are very good”.
Right Culture
¿ People led inclusive and empowered lives because of the ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the management and staff.
¿ People received good quality care and support because trained staff and specialists could meet their needs and wishes.
¿ People were supported by staff who understood best practice in relation to the wide range of strengths, impairments or sensitivities of people with a learning disability and/or autistic people may have. This meant people received compassionate and empowering care that was tailored to their needs.
¿ Staff knew and understood people well and were responsive, supporting their aspirations to live a quality life of their choosing.
¿ The change in provider had impacted the availability of some day services. The provider had introduced a range of activities and social events to support with these changes and offer alternatives.
¿ Staff turnover was very low, which supported people to receive consistent care from staff who knew them well.
¿ Staff placed people’s wishes, needs and rights at the heart of everything they did. People and those important to them, were involved in planning their care.
¿ One staff member told us, “I’m very happy with the provider, I see myself being here a long time, it’s like a big family, the home is a family and people see the staff as their family. The staff are really dedicated to the people they support, and it makes me so proud.”
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for the service under the previous provider, Henshaw's Society for Blind People was good, (published on 8 November 2017).
For more details, please see the full report which is on the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Why we inspected
We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support right care right culture. We also inspected this service to provide the new provider with a rating.
The overall rating for the service has remained the same based on the findings of this inspection.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.