We carried out a review of the data available to us about Short Term Breaks - 69 Neithrop Avenue on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Short Term Breaks - 69 Neithrop Avenue, you can give feedback on this service.
Short Term Breaks-69 Neithrop Avenue is a respite service for people with learning and/or physical
disabilities. The respite service offers a range of support agreed via the local authority, which can include, emergency respite stays, tea visits and overnight stays. The service can support up to five people and 19 people were currently accessing the service, this included two people who were living in the service as an emergency placement.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
Based on our review of Safe and Well Led, the service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.
Right support:
• The service was a five bedroomed property. As this was a respite service, often five people did not always stay in the service, each day was different as staff tried to match people who stayed so that they would enjoy being together. The provider had made the service more homely and welcoming than at the previous inspection and the registered manager was keen to develop a sensory room where activities could also take place. People received personalised care and support specific to their needs and preferences. People were protected from the risks of harm, abuse or discrimination because staff knew what actions to take if they identified concerns. There were enough staff working to provide the support people needed. Staff understood the risks associated with the people they supported. Risk assessments provided guidance for staff about individual risks. People received their medicines safely, when they needed them.
Right care:
• Care was person-centred and promoted people’s dignity, privacy and human rights. People’s individual needs and choices were recognised, and respected. People were supported to have 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.
Right culture:
• The service had worked hard to keep people safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Good quality monitoring systems had been developed and morale was good amongst the staff team. We received positive feedback in relation to the care people received and how the service was run. One relative told us, “[Person using the service] is delighted to go to Neithrop and happy to come home. They [staff] would communicate to us if they weren't happy.” A second relative said, “There are no problems at all and [person using the service] is safe and happy.”
We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection (and update) The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 14 November 2019) and there was one breach of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of the regulation.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
We carried out a comprehensive inspection of this service on the 10 November 2019, where one breach of a legal requirement was found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve their quality assurance systems.
We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the key questions safe and well-led.
The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
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.
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.
There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The provider’s quality assurance systems and processes to monitor people’s records had not been effective in ensuring these were checked and updated in a timely way. People's support records needed to be reviewed so that the provider could be confident staff had all the up to date information they needed to support people.
People's medicines were managed safely and effectively. Although, records relating to how people take their medicines and express if they need 'as required' medicines had not been in place on the first day of the inspection.
Other audits and checks on different aspects of the service, for example, health and safety, were effective in identifying if there were areas needing to be improved.
People told us they enjoyed visiting the service and had friends they could meet up with whilst they stayed at the service.
Relatives were happy with the service and although spoke about the changes with the staff team, they felt people were safe whilst using the service. There were sufficient numbers of staff in place and they understood how to provide people with safe, person centred care and support.
We saw people taking part in activities and people told us they liked going out and this was offered to them whenever they were staying at the service. People, and where applicable their relatives, could discuss their support needs and they were involved with how they wanted to be supported. Accessible information was provided to help people make an informed choice.
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 service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that 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 enjoying their stay at the respite service and having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and socialise with other people.
Complaints and safeguarding concerns were handled and responded to in line with the provider's policies and procedures.
Accidents and incidents were investigated so that any identified patterns could be investigated and acted on so that lessons could be learnt.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection: This service was registered with us on 16/10/2018 and this is the first inspection.
The last rating for this service was good (published 25 April 2018). Since this rating was awarded the registered provider of the service has changed. We have used the previous rating good to inform our planning and decisions about the rating at this inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating and the registration date of the service under the new registered provider
Enforcement
We have identified a breach in relation to regulation 17 (Good governance) of the Health and
Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.
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.