Background to this inspection
Updated
27 June 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. This inspection was planned to check 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.
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type.
Avocet – 21 Potterill Lane is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a manager 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.
Notice of inspection.
We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection site visit because the service is small, people are often out, and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.
What we did before the inspection.
We reviewed information we had received from the provider about the service since the last inspection, such as a DoLS, a death and allegations of abuse. We asked the provider to complete a provider information return (PIR) prior to the inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the PIR. 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. We also looked at information we already held about the service and what people had told us.
During the inspection.
We spoke with two people that used the service about some of their experience of care, but conversation was limited. We spoke with the registered manager and three staff. We viewed a range of records. These including three people’s care files, medication sheets, quality assurance, premises safety and staffing documents. We looked around the premises. We observed people interacting with staff and staff helped people to tell us what they liked, preferred and wished.
After the inspection.
We visited the Avocet Trust headquarters on 10 May 2019 to view staff recruitment files, as these were not held at the service. We looked at the training data.
Updated
27 June 2019
About the service.
Avocet – 21 Potterill Lane is a residential care home that was providing personal care to three people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to four people with a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder.
The care home accommodates people in one adapted building and all bedrooms are single occupancy with their own bathroom facility. People share the lounge, dining room, kitchen and garden. The size of service meets current best practice guidance. This promotes people living in a small domestic style property to enable them to have the opportunity of living a full life.
People’s experience of using the service and what we found.
People were safely supported and protected from harm or abuse. Safeguarding and risk management systems in place supported this. Staffing levels were safe and new staff were recruited using robust procedures. Management of medicines were safe and infection control and prevention practices protected people from harm. Staff learnt lessons when problems arose.
People’s needs were effectively assessed. Staff were suitably trained to support people with mobility, nutrition and health care, as well as any diagnosed conditions. The premises were suitably designed to meet the needs of the people that lived there and so they were comfortable and safe.
The principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance ensure people with a learning disability and or autism who use a service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best outcomes that include control, choice and independence. At this inspection the provider had ensured they were applied. The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support in the following ways: promotion of choice and control, independence, inclusion and engagement in the community. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
Staff worked consistently well with other agencies. 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’s equality, diversity, privacy, dignity and independence were respected. Their views on their care and support were listened to. They were supported by caring and compassionate staff and so their lives were pleasant.
Staff provided personalised care with the use of robust support plans, which meant people experienced good support. People’s communication needs were well met using systems and good practice. Their concerns were satisfactorily addressed because complaints were responded to and well managed. People were assured a good end of life experience when the time came.
The registered manager promoted a positive culture among the workforce. They and the staff team understood and acted on their duty of care responsibilities to be open and honest. Everyone that worked at the service was clear about their roles, monitored people’s changing needs and sought to improve the care people received. They engaged and involved people in deciding what care they were given and how. Partnership working was responsive to people’s needs. All of this meant people experienced a well-run service where their needs were met.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the Care Quality Commission website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection.
At the last inspection the service was rated good (published 21 December 2016.)
Why we inspected.
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up.
We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.