The Care Quality Commission
  • Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Avalon

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Longhouse Road, Chadwell St Mary, Grays, Essex, RM16 4QP (01375) 841402

Provided and run by:
Family Mosaic Housing

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

All Inspections

2 February 2017

During a routine inspection

Avalon is registered to provide accommodation with personal care for eight people who have a learning disability. There were eight people living at the service on the day of our inspection. The premises is single storey and wheelchair accessible.

At the last inspection this service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Staff were knowledgeable about identifying abuse and how to report it to safeguard people. Recruitment procedures were thorough. Risk management plans were in place to support people and their safety. There were also processes in place to manage any risks in relation to the running of the service.

Medicines were safely stored, recorded and administered in line with current guidance to ensure people received their prescribed medicines to meet their needs. People had support to access healthcare professionals and services. People had choices of food and drinks that supported their nutritional or health care needs and their personal preferences.

People were supported by skilled staff who knew them well and were available in sufficient numbers to meet people's needs effectively. People’s dignity and privacy was respected and staff were friendly and caring. People were supported to participate in social activities including community based events.

Staff used their training effectively to support people. The registered manager understood and complied with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the associated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Staff were aware of their role in relation to MCA and DoLS and how to support people so not to place them at risk of being deprived of their liberty. People were supported to have choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the systems in place in the service supported this practice.

Care records included people’s preferences and individual needs so that staff had clear information on how to give people the support that they needed. Relatives confirmed that people received the care they required.

The service was well led; relatives and staff knew the registered manager and found them to be approachable and available in the home. People and their relatives had the opportunity to say how they felt about the home and the service it provided. The provider and registered manager had systems in place to check on the quality and safety of the service provided and to put actions plans in place where needed.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

13 March and 14 April 2015

During a routine inspection

The inspection was completed on 13 March and 14 April 2015 and there were eight people living in the service when we inspected.

Avalon Nursing Home is one of several services owned by Family Mosaic Housing. The service provides accommodation, personal care and nursing care for up to eight people who have a learning disability and physical or sensory disabilities.

The service had 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Regular health and safety checks relating to fire safety were not routinely completed so as to ensure their health and wellbeing.

Staff had a good understanding and knowledge of safeguarding procedures and were clear about the actions they would take to protect people. Risks to people’s health and wellbeing were appropriately assessed, managed and reviewed.

There were sufficient numbers of staff available. Appropriate recruitment checks were in place which helped to protect people and ensure staff were suitable to work at the service. Staff felt well supported in their role and received regular supervision.

Care plans were detailed and provided an accurate description of people’s care and support needs. The management of medicines within the service was safe. Appropriate assessments had been carried out where people living at the service were not able to make decisions for themselves and to help ensure their rights were protected. People’s healthcare needs was good and people had access to a range of healthcare services and professionals.

People were supported to be able to eat and drink sufficient amounts to meet their needs. The dining experience was positive.

People were treated with kindness and respect by staff. Staff understood people’s needs and provided care and support accordingly. Staff had a good relationship with the people they supported.

There was an effective system in place to respond to comments and complaints. The provider’s quality assurance arrangements were appropriate to ensure that where improvements to the quality of the service was identified, these were addressed.

7 January 2014

During a routine inspection

As part of this inspection process we spoke with a senior manager from Family Mosaic, the manager and three members of support staff. The majority of people who used the service were unable to verbally tell us what they thought of the service provided as a result of their complex communication needs.

Our observations suggested that people living at the service were happy, that they felt safe and were well cared for. It was evident that the people who used the service had a good relationship and rapport with the staff who supported them.

People's health and personal care needs were assessed and there were detailed support plans in place for staff to follow so as to ensure that people were supported safely and in accordance with their individual preferences and wishes. Staff spoken with demonstrated a good understanding of individual's health and personal care needs and how each person wished to be supported. People were provided with a choice of food and drink.

We found that people who used the service lived in a comfortable and safe environment. People also had access to specalist equipment that met their needs.

The provider was able to demonstrate that a robust staff recruitment policy and procedure was in place and followed to ensure that people living at the service were kept safe.

27 February 2013

During a routine inspection

We directly observed care within the service, so as to help us determine what it was like for people living at Avalon Nursing Home. We found that staff interactions with people were positive and staff were seen to have a good rapport with individuals. Staff on duty at the time of our inspection were noted to have a good understanding and awareness of people's individual support needs. People indicated that they liked living at Avalon Nursing Home and found staff to be nice. Staff confirmed to us that they liked working at the service and that staff morale was much improved.

Our findings showed that each person had a detailed support plan identifying their specific care needs and how these were to be delivered and supported by staff.

Records showed that there was an effective quality assurance system in place to monitor the quality of the service provided. Minor improvements were needed in relation to the service's infection control procedures and practices.

6 January 2012

During a routine inspection

Where people were unable to provide a verbal response or tell us verbally their experiences, for example as a result of their limited verbal communication or poor cognitive ability, we noted their non verbal cues and these indicated that people were generally relaxed and comfortable and found their experience at the home to be positive.