Archived: Brookvale Road

Brookvale Road is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to three younger people with a diagnosis of a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. The property is a large family type home that has been extended and adapted to provide additional bedrooms and living space. At the time of the inspection three people used 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.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People were safeguarded from harm because the staff team had received safeguarding adults training. They knew what to do if they had any concerns regarding people or they suspected people were being harmed. Risks to people’s health and welfare were assessed and plans were in place to mitigate the risks. Staff on duty each shift were sufficient to ensure each person’s care and support needs were met. This was kept under review and adjusted as and when necessary.

Safe recruitment procedures ensured people were looked after by suitable staff. People were supported with their medicines.. Medicines were well managed and administered by staff who were trained and competent. The provider had effective infection control procedures in place.

People’s care and support needs were assessed, and a personalised support plan written, taking in to account their preferences. People were involved in creating their support plans. Staff received relevant training to enable them to meet each person’s individual care and support needs and do their job well. New recruits who joined the staff team completed an induction training programme at the start of their employment. All other staff had a mandatory refresher training programme to complete. Staff were well supported to do their job. Regular supervision sessions with a senior member of staff, to guide them with their work were being re-introduced by the new manager.

The staff team assisted people to access the healthcare services they needed but encouraged independence where possible. People were encouraged to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet but respected people’s rights to make their own food choices. People received sufficient food and drink. Any preferences people had regarding food and drink were accommodated. People were supported to develop daily living skills and make their own meals and drinks.

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 staff team was small and well-established, and this meant people were supported by familiar staff. The staff were kind and caring and wanted the best for people. The interactions between people and the staff were friendly and evidenced good working relationships. People were content in their home environment.

Each person was looked after in a person-centred way. The staff knew what was important to each person. They knew when people were dissatisfied because they understood how the person acted when they were not happy. The staff understood what specific facial expressions, body language or types of behaviour meant. This information was recorded in their support plans. People were encouraged to enjoy social activities and were supported to explore new opportunities. People were supported to maintain contact with their family and friends.

A new manager had just started work at the service and was already familiar with the three people who lived at the home. The provider had systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service, to share information and to ensure the staff team kept up to date with best practice.

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 November 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based upon 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.

Brookvale Road 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.

Brookvale Road provides care and accommodation for up to three people with a diagnosis of a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. There were three people living in the home at the time of our visit.

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.

The service is required to have 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. At the time of our visit the registered manager had been in post for four years.

People felt safe living at Brookvale Road. There were enough staff to respond to people's needs in a timely way. Staff turnover was low and there were no staff vacancies. The provider's recruitment procedures minimised, as far as possible, the risks to people safety.

Procedures were in place to protect people from harm and staff knew how to manage the risks associated with people's care. No accidents or incidents had occurred in the previous 12 months.

The home was clean and well maintained. Regular checks of the building and equipment took place to make sure they were safe to use.

New staff were provided with effective support when they started work at the home. Staff were confident the training they received gave them the knowledge and skills to meet people's needs effectively.

The provider was working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (2005). Staff respected the decisions people made.

Staff were friendly and caring. They enjoyed spending their time with the people who lived in the home.

Staff were responsive to people’s needs and supported people to make and communicate their choices. Because staff knew people well they knew how they preferred their support to be provided.

People chose what they wanted to eat and we saw people were offered nutritionally balanced meals.

People's medicines were stored and administered safely. People received the care and treatment they required from health professionals. The home worked in partnership with key organisations to ensure people received joined-up care which met their needs.

People chose to take part in a variety of social activities which they enjoyed.

People were supported to be independent and staff respected people's right to privacy.

People were happy with how the home was run and they were involved in planning and reviewing their care. They told us they felt listened to and they had opportunities to feedback on the service they received.

Effective systems to monitor and the review the quality of the home were in place.

Staff told us they enjoyed working at the home. Staff morale was high and communication and team work was good. Staff had opportunities to contribute their ideas to share suggestions and good practice.

People knew how to make a complaint and felt comfortable doing so. The management team were responsive to people's feedback.

Brookvale Road is registered for up to three adults offering accommodation for people who require nursing or personal care. The service is for adults with learning disabilities, autism or autistic spectrum disorders. At the time of our inspection there were three people living at the home.

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. A registered manager had been in post since June 2014.

People told us they felt safe living at the home. Staff had a good understanding of what constituted abuse and knew what actions to take if they had any concerns. Staff knew about processes to minimise risks to people’s safety.

There were enough staff to care for the people they supported. Checks were carried out prior to staff starting work to ensure their suitability to work with people who used the service. Staff received an induction into the organisation, and a programme of training to support them in meeting people’s needs effectively.

Care plans contained information for staff to help them provide personalised care. Care was reviewed regularly with the involvement of people and their relatives.

People had staff to care for them who they were familiar with, and who knew them well. People and relatives told us staff were caring and had the right skills and experience to provide the care required. People were supported with dignity and respect. Staff encouraged people to be independent.

People receive medicine from trained staff and medicines were stored and disposed of safely.

Staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and how to support people with decision making, which included arranging for further support when this was required.

People had enough to eat and drink during the day, and were assisted to manage their health needs when required.

People knew how to complain and could share their views and opinions about the service they received. Staff were confident they could raise any concerns or issues with the registered manager, and they would be listened to and acted upon.

There were processes to monitor the quality of the service provided. This was through regular communication with people and staff. There were other checks which ensured staff worked in line with policies and procedures. Checks of the environment were undertaken and staff knew the correct procedures in an emergency.