Alderwood LLA Ltd Addington Road

Updated 2 November 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.

This inspection took place on 31 August 2018 and was carried out by one inspector. The inspection was announced. We gave the service two hours’ notice of the inspection because it is a small service caring for people with complex learning disabilities and autism. We needed to ensure people knew we would be visiting and that the registered manager and staff would be available.

Before the inspection, we reviewed information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also reviewed other information that we held about the service such as statutory notifications that had been sent to us by the provider. These detail events which happened at the service, which providers are required to tell us about.

We contacted commissioners and asked them for their views about the service. Commissioners are people who work to find appropriate care and support services for people.

We made general observations of people using the service being supported by staff. We spoke with three relatives of people using the service, three support workers, a senior support worker, the registered manager, and the area manager.

We reviewed the support plans and associated care records for the four people using the service to ensure they were reflective of their needs. We looked at the recruitment files of three staff, and other documents relating to staff training and support and the overall management of the service.

Updated 2 November 2018

Alderwood LLA Addington Road is a small residential care home for four people with learning disabilities and autism. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service is based in a residential area and is 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.

This inspection took place on 31 August 2018 and was the first inspection of the service since they registered with the CQC in July 2017. At the time of our inspection, the provider confirmed they were providing care to four people.

The service had 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.

The ethos at Alderwood LLA Addington Road was based on providing a family type setting for all adults, whilst supporting their needs through structured education and living. Without exception all the relatives spoken with were extremely pleased with the individualised care and support their family members received at the service.

Without exception all people using the service received personalised care that was extremely responsive to their individual needs. The ethos of the service ensured that all people and their relatives were fully involved in their care. Staff had an excellent understanding of all the people using the service. They worked as a close team and were driven in providing person centred support to enable people to achieve as much independence as possible.

The registered manager and the managing director were very involved in the care of people using the service. The Alderwood organisation was a bronze member of the British Institute for Learning Disabilities (BILD). The provider was committed to championing human rights to enable people with learning disabilities and complex needs to be empowered to live the life they choose. The provider had also participated in the (STOMP) initiative, which is aimed at stopping the over medication of people with a learning disability, autism or both.

All staff had the opportunity to develop at their own pace. Alderwood valued the commitment of its staff team and recognised the qualities and skills of staff to provide career progression within the organisation. The staff team met each person’s complex communication needs through using extensive communication tools. They used visual aids to help people on the autism spectrum better understand communication, interpersonal skills and processes. These assisted people to express their feelings and re-enforce positive behaviours and de-escalate negative behaviours.

The staff were extremely dedicated to helping people to achieve their potential. Every opportunity was sought to enhance people’s life experience. The Alderwood organisation had a personalised and innovative approach to supporting people through activities, education and work. The service had established strong links with resource centres for people with a learning disability and relatives were passionate about the quality of the care that was provided to their family members, the progress for their family members, and the unique nature of the service.

People’s support plans were extremely person centred and fully reflected their individuality, people were supported to set goals and targets that were achievable. An equality, diversity and human rights approach to supporting people’s privacy and dignity and treating them as individuals was embedded in the staff practice.

Systems were in place to ensure that no discrimination took place, and that people’s cultural and life choices were promoted and protected. The support plans gave information on how people wanted their care and support to be delivered, and included information on their hopes and aspirations, their social, cultural and spiritual beliefs and physical and emotional needs.

Everyone without exception praised the caring approach of staff at every level. People received kind and compassionate care and had maximum control over their lives. Staff were very passionate and enthusiastic about ensuring the care they provided was personalised and individualised.

People received care from staff that had the knowledge and skills to provide their care and support. Staff induction training and mentoring was comprehensive and on-going training was provided to ensure staff followed current good practice guidance. Staff had regular team meetings and individual one to one supervision meetings with their line managers. The meetings provided staff with opportunities to discuss any issues or concerns, their personal development and any further support required. The staff recruitment procedures ensured that appropriate pre-employment checks were carried out to ensure only suitable staff worked at the service. Correct staffing levels were in place.

People were supported to live health lifestyles and have access to the services of other health and social care professionals. the care and welfare of people using the service, and progress and strategies for promoting healthy lifestyle choices, eating a healthy diet, getting fresh air and exercise. Staff followed a consistent approach, and people felt valued, resulting in an increased sense of well-being, and reduced incidents of anxiety and challenging behaviour.

Information on how to make a complaint was available in easy read formats. People and their families knew how to make a complaint if needed, and they were confident that their concerns would be listened to and acted upon as required.

The staff worked in line with the Mental Capacity Act code of practice. People's consent was gained before any care was provided. Families were involved in people’s care when appropriate. 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 support this practice.