Archived: The Avenue Care Home

Updated 12 November 2015

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check 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 15 September 2015 and was unannounced. It was undertaken by an inspector for adult social care.

Before the inspection we reviewed information we held about the service. This included previous inspection reports and notifications we had received. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

During the inspection we met and spoke with one person who lived at Avenue Care Home (the other person living at the service did not want to speak with us), the registered manager and one member of staff. We observed the interactions between people and staff and discussed people’s care needs with staff. We inspected the premises.

We also inspected two care records related to people’s individual care needs, three staff recruitment files and five staff training records. We look at the records associated with the management of medicines, and management of people's money. We reviewed health and safety documentation, staff employment and supervision records, incident and complaints logs and quality audits undertaken by the service.  We reviewed staff meeting minutes and questionnaires which had been completed by multidisciplinary staff who worked with people living at the service. 

We spoke with a social worker from the community mental health team on the day of the inspection and got feedback from one of the psychiatrists who works with the people who use the service.

Updated 12 November 2015

We inspected this service on 15 September 2015. The inspection was unannounced. Avenue Care Home is a care home registered for a maximum of four adults who have mental health needs. The service is currently a home for women only.

At the time of our inspection there were two people living at the service. No one was detained under the Mental Health Act or under formal supervision in the community.

The service is located in a terraced house, on two floors with access to a front and back garden.

We previously inspected the service on 7 January 2014 and the service was found to be meeting the regulations.

Avenue Care Home had a registered manager at the service. 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.

Referrals to the service could be made by local authorities. People had to be under the care of the local community mental health team.

During the inspection there was a calm and pleasant atmosphere. People using the service informed us that they were satisfied with the care and services provided. They said that they were treated with dignity and respect and we observed good quality interactions between staff and people using the service.

Staff were fully aware of people’s needs as a result of working with people using the service and information provided by the staff from the community mental health team. Their needs were documented within detailed care plans. Staff responded quickly to people’s change in needs if they were physically or mentally unwell.

Care records were individualised and reflected their choices, likes and dislikes, and arrangements were in place to ensure that these were responded to. Care plans provided detailed information on people’s health needs which were closely monitored. People were supported to maintain good health through regular access to healthcare professionals, such as GPs, the local community mental health team (including mental health professionals and social work staff) and the local general hospital.

Risk assessments had been carried out and these contained guidance for staff on protecting people. Care plans were developed and updated with input from health and social care professionals.

People were promoted to live full and active lives and were supported to access activities in the wider community if they wished. People’s cultural and religious needs were actively facilitated by staff.

People had their medicines managed safely. People received their medicines as prescribed and on time. Staff had been carefully recruited and provided with training to enable them to care effectively for people, although three staff required formal training in medicines management. Storage and management of medicines was well managed with clear processes in place.

Staff felt supported and there was always a manager available on call, but there was no evidence of regular supervision documented. Staff knew how to recognise and report any concerns or allegations of abuse and described what action they would take to protect people against harm. Staff told us they felt confident any incidents or allegations would be fully investigated.

There were enough staff to meet people's needs.

The home had comprehensive arrangements for quality assurance. Regular audits and checks had been carried out by the registered manager.

We found the premises were clean and tidy. The home had an infection control policy and measures were in place for infection control. There was a record of essential inspections and maintenance carried out. There was clear documentation relating to complaints and incidents.

Management of money for people using the service was well managed and organised.

People told us the management was a visible presence within the home. Staff talked positively about their jobs telling us they enjoyed their work and felt valued. The staff we met were caring, kind and compassionate.

The building was not suitable for people with significant mobility problems although this was not an issue for the people who used the service at this point in time as nobody had any mobility problems.

We have made recommendations in relation to staff training and supervision.