Mengham Avenue

Updated 24 April 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 checked 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 inspection took place on 13 March 2018 and was unannounced.

One inspector carried out the inspection.

Prior to the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service, including statutory notifications submitted about key events that occurred at the service. We also reviewed the information included in the provider information return (PIR). 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.

During the inspection we spoke with four staff, including the registered manager and area manager. We spoke with three people and observed interactions between staff and people using the service. We reviewed two people’s care records plus three staff records such as supervisions, recruitment and training. We reviewed medicines management arrangements and records relating to the management of the service, including audits, policies and procedures.

Updated 24 April 2018

This inspection took place on 13 March 2018 and was unannounced.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Requires Improvement and we identified three breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2014. These were Regulation 11 (Consent to care and treatment), Regulation 12 (Safe care and treatment) and Regulation 17 (Good governance).

Following the last inspection, we asked the provider to complete an action plan to show what they would do and by when to improve the key questions Safe, Effective and Well led to at least good.

At this inspection we found that these issues had been addressed and the rating for the service is Good.

Mengham Avenue 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. This home is not registered to provide nursing. The care home accommodates five people in one adapted building. There were five people living at the home on the day of our visit.

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.

There was a registered manager in place. ‘A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission 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.’

People received safe care as they were supported by staff who knew how to protect them from harm. Staff were aware of people’s individual risks and plans were in place to minimise these while maintaining the person’s independence. Staffing was arranged based on people’s individual needs and what activities were happening in the home. Staffing was flexible to suit the people living at the home.

The registered manager supported staff by arranging training so staff developed the skills to provide care and support to people and supervision to support them in their daily roles. People were supported by staff who knew their individual dietary requirements and how to support them in the right way. People had access to healthcare professionals when they required them.

People were supported to have 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.

People were treated with compassion which had a positive impact on their well-being. People we spoke with told us that all staff spoke kindly to them and they felt happy and comfortable in their home. Staff helped people to make choices about their care and the views and decisions they had made about their care were listened and acted upon.

People participated in a range of activities inside and outside of the home.

Staff liaised with other health and social care professionals and ensured people received effective, coordinated care in regards to any health needs.

An appropriate, well maintained and clean environment was provided that met people’s needs.

People were involved in the planning and review of their care and support. People were supported to continue with their hobbies and interests which promoted their independence and confidence. Information was provided to people should they wish to raise a complaint.

Systems were in place to monitor and assess the quality and safety of the care provided. There were opportunities for people and relatives to feedback their views about their care and this was used to improve the service. Staff were supported to carry out their roles and responsibilities effectively, so that people received care and support in line with their needs and wishes. The checks completed focused on people’s experience of care. Where areas for improvement were identified, systems were in place to ensure lessons were learnt and used to improve the service delivery.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.