The Care Quality Commission
  • Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Cavendish Road

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

274a & b Cavendish Road, Balham, London, SW12 0BS (020) 8675 9957

Provided and run by:
Metropolitan Support Trust

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

All Inspections

8 July 2014

During a routine inspection

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, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.  There was a registered manager at the service at the time of our inspection.  A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service and has the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law; as does the provider.

Cavendish Road is a home for up to nine people with learning disabilities. It is located in Balham, close to amenities and with good transport links. The inspection was unannounced.

People using the service were protected from abuse because the provider had taken steps to minimise the risk of abuse. Decisions related to peoples care were taken in consultation with people using the service, their next of kin and other healthcare professionals which ensured their rights were protected.

There were enough staff available at the service and staffing levels were determined according to people’s individual needs. We saw that extra staff were provided where people’s needs had changed and they required extra support.

Staff received training that was relevant in supporting people with learning disabilities. Staff were supported through strong links with community healthcare professionals to ensure people received effective care relating to their diet and their ongoing healthcare needs.

There was a friendly, relaxed atmosphere at the home. People told us they enjoyed living there and their relatives told us that staff were caring and compassionate. People were able to take part in activities that they enjoyed and they received support from staff if required.

Where people using the service lacked capacity to understand certain decisions related to their care and treatment, best interest meetings were held which involved family members, independent mental capacity advocates, and social workers.

The registered manager at the home was familiar with all of the people living there and staff felt supported by the management team.  Regular staff and residents meetings were held by the service.

16 September 2013

During a routine inspection

We were shown around the house by a member of staff. During our visit, there was only one person at home. They told us they were "happy" and "I like my room". There were a number of picture boards around the home to help people. There was a noticeboard with pictures of staff on duty; picture cards were used to help people make a choice with regards to meal planning and activities.

We looked at three care plans during our visit; these covered all aspects of people's lives and contained support guidelines and objectives. Staff told us that care plans and risk assessments were updated every six months or more often. This was evidenced in the care plans that we saw. Key work meetings were held every month to support people further.

We checked the Medication Administration Record (MAR) for three people using the service. These were all complete and signed by staff. A second staff member countersigned the records during the shift handover to confirm medication had been administered correctly. Medication was kept secure in locked cupboards. Controlled drugs were also stored appropriately at the home.

We spoke with the manager about staffing levels at the home. We looked at staff rotas for the past three weeks and saw the staff levels were as described by the manager.

People's personal records, staff files and other records were accurate, fit for purpose and were stored appropriately.

5 March 2013

During a routine inspection

Due to the complex needs of the people at the home during our visit we were unable to speak to them. The care plans were person centred and people using the service had signed them to indicate they agreed to the content of them. The manager told us that the key worker would sit and go through the care plan with people using pictures and other visual aids to help them understand. The manger told us "we always try and involve relatives and ask for their input".

There was a daily activities chart for each of the people using the service and from this we saw that people were involved in a range of different things such as gardening, arts and crafts or voluntary jobs. There were a number of photo displays throughout the home showing different events and holidays that people had been on. The manager told us that "people can choose to do any activity they are interested in".

There was evidence that learning from incidents and investigations took place and appropriate changes were implemented. The manager showed us the incident book and told us that "we always try and improve the service based on what we learn".

19 April 2012

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We did not talk to people living at the home on this occasion. On our previous visit, in November 2011, the people we spoke with said they were happy living at the home. They said that staff were kind and caring.

25 October 2011

During a routine inspection

The people we spoke to told us that they were happy living at the home. They said that the staff were kind and caring. They told us that they were given support to be independent and learn new skills.

Although people told us they were happy and we saw that they were well supported, we found that failures to maintain a safe environment may put people at risk. We also found people's needs may not always be fully met because the staff have not had training in some aspects of their role.