Background to this inspection
Updated
1 February 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 unannounced comprehensive inspection took place on 18 December 2017. The inspection team consisted of one inspector.
Prior to the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR), which was submitted to us in June 2017. This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, such as what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. Before our inspection we reviewed relevant information that we held about the service. This included any concerns or notifications of incidents that the provider had sent us since the last inspection. Notifications inform the Care Quality Commission of important events in the service, such as safeguarding alerts, incidents, accidents or the death of a person using the service. We also reviewed previous reports and contacted the local authority to obtain their views about the care provided.
During our inspection we spent time observing care and support provided to people. We spoke with five staff and the registered manager. We also spoke briefly with two people who used the service, because most people were not always able to communicate with us, due to their disabilities. We spoke with three relatives during our inspection. We looked at all five people’s care records and other records relating to the management of the service. This included five staff supervision and training files, duty rosters, accident and incidents, complaints, health and safety, quality monitoring and medicines records.
Updated
1 February 2018
1a Hulse Avenue 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.
At our last inspection on 9 July 2015, the service was rated ‘Good’. At this inspection on 18 December 2017, we found the service remained ‘Good’.
1a Hulse Avenue is a five bedded care home for people with learning disabilities and autism. 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. At the time of our inspection, there were five people using the service.
The home had a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the home. Like registered providers, they are 'registered persons'. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and the associated regulations on how the home is run.
People continued to receive safe care. At our last inspection we made a recommendation for the provider to review their staffing levels to ensure that people were supported safely. At this inspection, we found the provider had made improvements to ensure there were enough staff on duty to support people safely.
Pre employment checks were carried out, which ensured that staff were suitable to work with people who needed support.
Systems were in place to ensure medicines were administered safely and when needed.
Equipment in the service was safe to use. They were maintained and serviced regularly. People lived in an environment that was clean, safe and suitable for their needs.
Staff knew how to keep people safe. Risks to them were identified and there was guidance in place for staff to minimise these risks. People were supported by staff who had received training to provide a safe and effective service.
People continued to be supported by experienced staff who received training and support to enable them to continue to provide an effective service.
People’s nutritional needs were met. Staff worked with health and social care professionals, such as speech and language therapists and GPs, to ensure that people remained healthy and well.
The service was caring. Staff treated people with dignity and respect. They provided support to people at the end of their life that was caring, sensitive and respectful.
People were supported to have choice and remain as independent as possible. The service was compliant with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. People and relatives were involved in decisions about their care. They were able to provide feedback and make suggestions about what they wanted from the service.
People continued to receive care and support that was responsive to their needs. They were supported by caring staff who treated them with respect. Their privacy and dignity were maintained. We saw that staff supported people patiently and were attentive to their needs. They engaged with people in a kind and considerate manner, which helped to foster a positive atmosphere in the service.
People were able to engage in activities and social events that they enjoyed. They were able to provide feedback and make suggestions about what they wanted from the service.
The service continued to be well led. Since the last inspection, a new register manager had started to manage the service. They had implemented systems to ensure the service the quality of service was monitored regularly and there was a positive culture of improvement.