Archived: Victoria Avenue

Updated 31 October 2018

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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

A comprehensive inspection was completed over two days on the 8 August 2018 and 20 August 2018. The inspection was unannounced on the first day and the second day was announced. The inspection was completed by two adult social care inspectors.

We contacted Healthwatch and the local authority safeguarding team prior to the inspection and used their feedback to aid our planning.

We looked at information we held about the provider and the service including statutory notifications relating to the service. Statutory notifications include information about important events, which the provider is required to send us. We used this information to help us plan this inspection.

On this occasion, we had not asked the provider to send us a provider Information return (PIR). A PIR is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service. This includes what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. However, during the inspection, we offered the provider the opportunity to share information they felt was relevant.

During the inspection we spoke with two people who were using the service, two staff members, one senior member of staff and the registered manager. After the inspection we spoke with one relative and two social care professionals.

We completed a tour of the environment, looked at two care files, two Medication Administration Records (MAR) and daily communication logs. We looked at monitoring charts and accidents and incidents. We saw three staff files, two staff supervision records, appraisals and training records. We also looked at handover sheets, staff rotas, staff meeting minutes and audits. We saw a training matrix and looked at completed surveys about the service.

Updated 31 October 2018

Victoria Avenue is a residential care home that provides support to two people. They provide support to people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health problems. Each person had their own bedroom, bathroom and living room. There was a shared kitchen and large secure garden. 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.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

People were protected from harm and abuse by staff who had the skills and knowledge to recognise and report safeguarding concerns. Risks to people were identified and reduced through appropriate strategies. People were supported by staff who were recruited safely and staffing levels were appropriate to meet people’s needs. People had their medicines administered by staff as prescribed and these were managed safely. Processes were in place to monitor and learn from accidents and incidents

People’s needs were assessed and plans were put in place so staff could provide consistent care. Staff received relevant training and regular supervision, ensuring best practice was embedded. People were supported to have meals of their choice and their health needs were met. The environment had been adapted to meet people’s needs. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were supported by kind and caring staff who took the time to build trusting and respectful relationships. Staff communicated with people in the way they understood and promoted their independence and inclusion in their local community. Staff maintained people’s privacy and dignity and supported people to maintain important relationships.

People engaged in a wide variety of activities within the service and the local area. Care plans were person centred and were reviewed and updated as people’s needs changed. Information was presented to people in the format that worked for them. People and their relatives could discuss their end of life wishes and a care plan was available to record this information. A complaints policy was in place.

The provider had systems in place to monitor and address any quality shortfalls. People and their relatives were provided opportunities to feedback to the service and this was used to drive improvements. The registered manager promoted an open and honest culture and worked to ensure people had a good quality of life.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.