Lavanda Villa 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.The service can accommodate up to four people living with a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. The accommodation is arranged over two floors with accessible outside space. At the time of this inspection there were four people living at the service.
At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the overall rating of good although we found improvements were needed to safeguard the way people’s finances were managed. However, there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns.
This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.
Why the service is still rated good:
People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Staff had been trained to recognise signs of potential abuse and knew how to keep people safe. Processes were also in place to ensure risks to people were managed safely.
There were enough staff, with the right training and support, to meet people’s needs and help them to stay safe. The provider carried out checks on new staff to make sure they were suitable and safe to work at the service.
Systems were in place to ensure people received their medicines in a safe way and people were protected by the prevention and control of infection.
The service responded in an open and transparent way when things went wrong, so that lessons could be learnt and improvements made.
People received care and support that promoted a good quality of life and was delivered in line with current legislation and standards.
People were supported to eat and drink enough. People were actively involved in choosing what they ate and helped to prepare meals for each other. Risks to people with complex eating needs were being managed appropriately
Staff worked with other external teams and services to ensure people received effective care, support and treatment. People had access to healthcare services, and received appropriate support with their on-going healthcare needs.
The building provided people with sufficient accessible space, including a garden, to meet their needs. The service operated 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.
The service generally acted in line with legislation and guidance regarding seeking people’s consent. More work was planned however, to ensure best interest decisions were recorded for financial expenditure where people did not have capacity to understand or manage their own money.
Staff provided care and support in a kind and compassionate way. People were enabled to have maximum 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’s privacy, dignity, and independence was respected and promoted. They received personalised care and were given opportunities to participate in activities, both in and out of the service.
Systems were in place for people to raise any concerns or complaints they might have about the service. Feedback was responded to in a positive way, to improve the quality of service provided.
Work was underway to develop new care plans that would support people at the end of their life to have a comfortable, dignified and pain free death, if the need arose.
There was strong leadership at the service which promoted a positive culture that was person centred and open. Arrangements were in place to involve people in developing the service and seek their feedback.
Systems were in place to monitor the quality of service provision and to drive continuous improvement.
Opportunities for the service to learn and improve were welcomed and acted upon, and the service worked in partnership with other agencies for the benefit of the people living there.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.