The Care Quality Commission
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Archived: Avenues South East - 6 Coleman's Stairs

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

6 Coleman's Stairs Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9HJ (020) 8308 2900

Provided and run by:
Avenues South East

All Inspections

22 December 2015

During a routine inspection

This inspection took place on 22 December 2015 and was unannounced.

Avenues South East – 6 Coleman’s Stairs provides residential care for up to four people with a learning disability, autistic spectrum disorder or physical disability. At the time of the inspection there were two people living at the service.

A registered manager was in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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. The registered manager was present on the day of the inspection.

Staff understood the importance of keeping people safe. Staff knew how to protect people from the risk of abuse. Risks to people’s safety were identified, assessed and managed appropriately. People received their medicines safely. Accidents and incidents were recorded and analysed to reduce the risks of further events.

Recruitment processes were in place to check that staff were of good character. There was a training programme in place to make sure staff had the skills and knowledge to carry out their roles effectively. People were consistently supported by sufficient numbers of staff who knew them well.

People were provided with a choice of healthy food and drinks which ensured that their nutritional needs were met. People’s health was monitored and people were referred to and supported to see healthcare professionals when they needed to.

The registered manager and staff understood how the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 was applied to ensure decisions made for people without capacity were only made in their best interests. CQC monitors the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which applies to care homes. These safeguards protect the rights of people using services by ensuring that if there are any restrictions to their freedom and liberty, these have been agreed by the local authority as being required to protect the person from harm. DoLS applications had been made to the relevant supervisory body in line with guidance.

People and their loved ones were involved with the planning of their care. People’s needs were assessed and care and support was planned and delivered in line with their individual care needs. Staff were kind, caring and compassionate and supported people to keep occupied with a range of meaningful social and educational activities to reduce the risk of social isolation.

The registered manager led by example and coached and mentored staff through regular one to one supervision. The registered manager worked with the staff each day to maintain oversight of the service. Staff were clear about what was expected of them and their roles and responsibilities and felt supported by the registered manager.

Services that provide health and social care to people are required to inform CQC of important events that happen in the service. CQC check that appropriate action had been taken. The registered manager had submitted notifications to CQC in an appropriate and timely manner in line with CQC guidelines. Complaints were responded to and used as a learning opportunity to improve the service.

2 May 2014

During a routine inspection

We used a number of different methods to help us understand the experiences of people who used the service, because the people using the service had complex needs which meant they were not able to tell us their experiences. These included observing the interactions between people and staff. There were four people using the service at the time of our inspection. We observed how people reacted and responded to see if people indicated they were happy, bored, discontented, angry or sad.

We found records to show that people received the care and support they needed to remain well and healthy. We saw records to show that the service worked closely with health and social care professionals to maintain and improve people's health and well-being.

People were provided with a suitable choice of food and drink. We observed that people were supported to have adequate nutrition and hydration.

People were cared for in a clean and hygienic environment. We found that people using the service were protected from infection because the provider maintained appropriate standards of cleanliness and hygiene.

We found that medicines were given to people when they needed them and in a safe way.

Systems were in place to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service that people received to ensure that the service was satisfactory and safe.

19 September 2013

During a routine inspection

We used a number of different methods to help us understand the experiences of people who used the service, because some of the people had complex needs which meant they were not able to tell us their experiences. These included observing the interactions between people and staff.

There were three people using the service at the time of our inspection. We observed how people reacted and responded to see if people indicated they were happy, bored, discontented, angry or sad.

Before people received any care or treatment they were asked for their consent and the provider acted in accordance with their wishes.

Staff told us and records showed how people's health needs were supported and that the service worked closely with health and social care professionals, such as Occupational Therapists and Psychiatrists, to maintain and improve people's health and well-being. We saw that care plans were regularly reviewed for their effectiveness and kept up to date to reflect the changing needs of the people using the service.

We observed that the provider had provided an environment that was suitably designed and adequately maintained. The home was clean and free from offensive odours.

There were enough skilled, qualified and experienced staff to meet people's needs.

Systems were in place to monitor the service that people received to ensure that the service was satisfactory and safe.

14 February 2013

During a routine inspection

We made an unannounced visit to the service and spoke the registered manager, area manager and staff members. There were four people using the service at the time of our visit. We also spoke to one person's relative.

We used a number of different methods to help us understand the experiences of people using the service. This was because the people had complex needs which meant they were not all able to tell us their experiences.

We spoke with some people and also observed the interactions between people and staff. We observed how people reacted and responded to see if people indicated they were happy, bored, discontented, angry or sad.

People told us and records showed that they had the care and support they needed to remain well and healthy.

We saw that the provider had measures in place to help safeguard people from abuse. We saw that there were measures to check that people were reliably provided with the facilities and services they needed. A relative we spoke with commented, 'We feel as though he is quite safe here'.

Staff engaged with people in a warm and positive way and supported people where needed. Staff told us that they felt supported in their work.

We saw evidence that staff had their work quality checked by the manager on a regular basis.