We carried out a review of the data available to us about Heart of England Mencap - 184 Drayton 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 Heart of England Mencap - 184 Drayton Avenue, you can give feedback on this service.
• People felt safe and comfortable around staff who understood their personal circumstances and how to recognise and report abuse.
• Staff recognised the risks to people’s health, safety and well-being and knew how to support them safely.
•People had access to support from staff when needed.
•Staff recruitment processes included a check of their background to review their suitability to work at the home.
•People received support with the medicines. Regular checks were undertaken to ensure people received the correct medicines by staff who were competent to help them.
•Staff understood and practised infection control techniques and had access to protective clothing to promote this.
•The registered manager ensured people’s care was based on best practice and staff had training to meet people’s needs.
•Staff training was reviewed and guidance on people’s needs was also shared through supervision and staff meetings.
•People were offered choices at mealtimes and encouraged to share ideas for their menu. Healthy options were also encouraged.
•People were supported to attend healthcare appointments and assisted to obtain advice from healthcare professionals, which was incorporated into people’s care.
•People’s consent was always sought before staff supported them.
•People were treated with dignity and respect and their independence was promoted.
• People and their families were involved in planning their care with support from staff.
•Staff supported people to enjoy a range of activities which reflected people’s individual interests.
• People and their families understood how to complain if they wanted to.
• Staff felt supported by the registered manager understood their role.
• Relatives and staff worked together with the registered manager and families to ensure people’s care was continually monitored, reviewed and reflected people’s needs.
• The registered manager and staff worked together with manager from the provider’s other homes and other stakeholders to improve people’s experience of care.
• We found the service met the characteristics of a “Good” rating in all areas; More information is available in the full report
Rating at last inspection: Good (08 June 2016)
About the service: 184 Drayton Avenue provides accommodation and personal care for up to three people with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. There were three people living at the home at the time of the inspection.
Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection. The service remained rated Good overall.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.
Heart of England Mencap - 184 Drayton Avenue provides accommodation and personal care for up to three people with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. The provider leases the property from a housing association and is responsible for managing it. At the time of our visit the service supported three people. The service was last inspected on 9 July 2013 when we found no breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations.
The service has 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People told us they felt safe using the service and staff understood how to protect people from abuse. There were processes to minimise risks associated with people’s care to keep them safe. This included the completion of risk assessments and checks on staff to ensure their suitability to work with people who used the service.
There were enough suitably trained staff to deliver care and support to people. A health professional we spoke with provided positive feedback about the care provided by staff. Staff received an induction and a programme of training to support them in meeting people’s needs effectively. Staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA), staff respected people’s decisions and gained people’s consent before they provided personal care.
People told us staff were kind and caring and had the right skills and experience to provide the care and support they required. Staff treated people in a way that respected their dignity and promoted their independence.
People were involved in planning how they were cared for and supported. Care was planned to meet people’s individual needs and preferences and care plans were regularly reviewed. Care plans and risk assessments contained relevant information for staff to help them provide the care people required.
People knew how to complain and were able to share their views and opinions about the service they received. Staff felt well supported by the registered manager and were confident they could raise any concerns or issues, knowing they would be listened to and acted on. There were checks in place to ensure good standards of care were maintained, however we found that checks were not always accurate.
On the day of our visit, one person who lived at the home had gone out for the day. The other people who lived at the home engaged in different activities throughout the day. For example one person gave us a tour of the home and showed us their bedroom. Later on in the day they were supported by staff to write letters to their family and friends. Another person was watching television in the front room.
We saw that people who lived in the home were relaxed. We saw staff demonstrated they understood people's personal needs and the ways they communicated those needs.
We saw that people's care plans were person centred and reflected their individual needs. We found that staff followed instructions within care plans when they supported people.
We saw that the home was clean and well maintained. We saw that people's bedrooms were personalised and had pictures and photos of them on the wall.
The two support staff we spoke with told us they felt well supported by their manager and had received a comprehensive induction.
The person we spoke with told us they were happy with the care and support they received in the home. We were told, "The staff are nice and I do things for myself, like cooking. It is a nice place."
We looked at records which stated how people liked and needed to be cared for. The member of the care staff team we spoke with demonstrated an understanding of people's needs and told us that care records were reviewed on a regular basis to make sure they remained relevant to people's changing needs. The records we looked at confirmed this.
We saw that people expressed their views and were involved in making choices and decisions about their care and support. We looked at minutes taken from residents' meetings which described the actions taken in response to people's suggestions. A member of the care staff team showed us records that described the choices and decisions people had made as part of their daily routines.
People told us they were aware of their right to raise concerns and complaints. We looked at records which demonstrated concerns and complaints had been investigated and resolved to the complainant's satisfaction. We were told, "I know I can speak to the staff if I have a worry."
When we arrived, people had not long come in from attending various day activities, and were putting away items, making themselves a hot drink, or relaxing in front of the television.
We spoke with all three people living at the home, as well as the member of staff on duty. We also spoke briefly with the manager of the service by phone, as well as a relative of one person living at the house.
The three people living at 184 Drayton Avenue appeared settled and content. Once they had got used to a stranger calling unannounced at their home, they were happy to talk about what interested them. They showed they were happy living where they did, content with each other's company and the care and support they had from staff, and satisfied with the activities and routines making up their daily lives. 'Riding' 'flowers' 'pictures' were named as favoured activities and interests during our visit.