We carried out a review of the data available to us about Monro Avenue on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Monro Avenue, you can give feedback on this service.
Monro Avenue is a residential care home providing personal care to people with a learning disability and/or autism spectrum disorder. People are accommodated in two detached houses next door to each other. The service can support up to 14 people and at the time of the inspection fourteen people were using the service.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
The building design fitted into the residential area and the other domestic homes of a similar size. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were safe, risks were assessed, monitored and well managed. Staff knew how to report concerns when people’s safety and wellbeing was at risk. Staffing levels met people’s personalised care needs. Staff followed good practice guidelines to prevent the spread of infection and the home was clean and tidy. People’s medicines were managed safely.
People’s dietary needs were met, and healthy eating was promoted. Staff ensured people's healthcare needs were met. Staff were alert and responsive to any changes in people's needs and liaised with health care professionals.
Staff training was tailored to meet people's individual needs and the provider recognised that the on-going development of staff skills, competence and knowledge was central to ensuring high-quality care and support. Staff received regular, useful and engaging supervision from senior staff members. The staff appraisal system ensured that all staff were working to the same vision and values as the provider.
People were supported by staff who knew them well. Care was personalised according to people's support needs and preferences. People’s independence and social engagement was promoted. Staff supported people to take part in activities and hobbies of their choice. Staff supported people to maintain relationships with family, friends and partners. People experienced positive outcomes and were empowered to make choices about their lives. Staff spoke with pride about supporting people to live fulfilling lives.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
The manager and area manager completed audits to monitor the quality of the service. The service put improvements in place when needed. People, relatives and staff were supported to feedback about the service and the service linked and worked well with other organisations. The leadership, management and governance of the service assured the delivery of high quality, person-centred care. The staff understood the vision and values of the provider and these made sure people were at the heart of the service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 22 August 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
The service had a registered manager. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People continued to receive safe care. There were enough staff to provide care and support to people to meet their needs and appropriate recruitment procedures were followed. People were consistently protected from the risk of harm and received their prescribed medicines safely.
People continued to receive effective care. Staff were provided with induction training and specific training to meet the needs of the people using the service. They were supported with regular supervision and annual appraisals. People were supported to lead a healthy lifestyle and maintain good health and nutrition.
Staff provided care and support in a caring and meaningful way. They knew the people who used the service well. People or their representatives were involved in the planning their care. The care plans were personalised to reflect people’s likes, dislikes and preferences. People knew how to make a complaint and systems were in place to respond to complaints and learn from them.
The service had a positive ethos and an open culture. The registered manager was a visible role model in the home. People, their relatives and staff told us that they had confidence in the registered manager’s ability to provide high quality managerial oversight and leadership at the service. Quality assurance systems were in place to continually monitor the service and drive continual improvement.
This inspection was carried out 10 & 13 July 2015 and was unannounced.
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Monro Avenue is a care home, which provides residential care for up to 14 people with a learning disability. On the day of our inspection 13 people were using the service.
There was a registered manager in post. 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 felt safe. Staff had received training to enable them to recognise signs and symptoms of abuse and to know how to report them.
People had risk assessments in place to enable them to be as independent as they could be.
There were sufficient staff, with the correct skill mix, on duty to support people with their needs.
Effective recruitment processes were in place and followed by the service.
Medicines were managed safely and the processes in place ensured that the administration and handling of medicines was suitable for the people who used the service.
Staff received a comprehensive induction process and ongoing training. They were well supported by the registered manager and had regular one to one supervisions.
Staff had attended a variety of training to ensure they were able to provide care based on current practice when supporting people.
Staff always gained consent before supporting people.
People were supported to make decisions about all aspects of their life; this was underpinned by the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Staff were knowledgeable of this guidance and correct processes were in place to protect people.
People were able to make choices about the food and drink they had, and staff gave support when required.
People were supported to access a variety of health professional when required, including doctors, opticians and dentists.
Staff provided care and support in a caring and meaningful way. They knew the people who used the service well.
People and relatives where appropriate, were involved in the planning of their care and support.
People’s privacy and dignity was maintained at all times.
People were supported to follow their interests.
A complaints procedure was in place and accessible to all. People knew how to complain.
Effective quality monitoring systems were in place. A variety of audits were carried out and used to drive improvement.
We found that people's requirements had been assessed so that care and treatment was planned to meet their individual needs.
We found that there were arrangements in place to regularly monitor the quality of the service that people received.
We found that Monro Avenue provided care that was safe, effective, compassionate and well managed.
We spoke with relatives of people who used the service and they told us that they 'never wanted their relative to be moved from Monro Avenue as they were very happy there'. Another relative told us that the staff were always 'very kind and caring'.
One person told us that the staff looked after them properly. Our observations confirmed people had their own individual routines which were respected.
One person told us they liked their bedroom and another person said they liked the new conservatory.