Background to this inspection
Updated
20 August 2019
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
Our inspection was carried out by one inspector on 4 July 2019.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in a ‘supported living’ setting, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.
The service had a manager in place who was in the process of becoming registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Shortly after our inspection we received confirmation that the managers CQC registration had been successful.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
Before our inspection we reviewed information we held about the service. This included notifications the provider is required by law to send us about events that happen within the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.
During the inspection
During our inspection we spoke with four people using the service and one family member of a person using the service. We observed interactions between people and staff to help us understand their experiences of receiving care and support at the service. We spoke with the manager, the regional manager and three staff members. We looked at records which included two care plans, medicine records and other records relating to the management of the service.
After the inspection
After our inspection we spoke with three relatives of people using the service and the manager sent us additional information such as resident and staff meeting minutes, training, staff rotas and quality checks.
Updated
20 August 2019
About the service
Avenue Road is a supported living service that can accommodate up to nine people with mild to moderate learning disabilities, diagnosis of mental health, behaviours that challenge and other associated health or communication needs. At the time of our inspection eight people were using 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 spoke openly about the things they had achieved while living at the service. They spoke positively about their goals and aspirations and how staff supported them to achieve them.
Staff continued to put people at the heart of the service and were skilled in the way they provided person centred care and support. People continued to have an active and fulfilled life that was exceptional in meeting their needs and preferences. Staff actively encouraged people to try out new experiences and activities.
People told us they felt safe and would speak up if they had any problems. Staff knew what to look for to help them identify abuse; they knew how to report any concerns and felt they would be listened to by their managers. Staff understood the best ways to communicate with people and were able to support people when they became upset or worried.
People had risk assessments which helped them and staff make sure everyone was safe at the service and in the community. These helped staff to manage people’s risk while still encouraging their independence. Medicines were managed safely and people received their medicine when they needed it.
People were supported by staff who had received the appropriate training and support. There were enough staff at the service and staff numbers were flexible to suit people's needs so that people received their care and support when they needed it.
People were encouraged to make healthy choices about their food and supported to have enough to eat and drink. Risks linked to people’s diet had been identified and staff knew what to do to help people. Staff supported people to see healthcare services when they needed to and encouraged people to be involved in their healthcare needs.
The provider listened to and acted on complaints. Information was available for people and their relatives to make a complaint and relatives were confident the manager would act on any concerns they raised.
Leadership was visible across the service and the manager and staff had a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities. The provider had a range of audits in place to assess, monitor and drive improvement. When things had gone wrong lessons were learned and this was shared across the service.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These make sure people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
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.
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 Outstanding (published 11 January 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on 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.