Avon Reach

Updated 16 December 2020

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.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of coronavirus, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice was safe and the service was compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 6 November 2020 and was unannounced.

Updated 16 December 2020

Avon Reach provides accommodation for up to 60 older people who require residential or nursing care. The building offers accommodation over three floors with lift access to each floor. People have single rooms with en-suite facilities and access to specialist bathrooms. There is a range of dining and sitting areas and secure accessible outside space. There were 51 people living at the home at the time of inspection.

Avon Reach is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

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 told us they felt safe living at Avon Reach. Staff had been trained to recognise suspected abuse and understood the actions they needed to take if they had concerns. People were protected from discrimination as staff had completed equality and diversity training. Risks to people were assessed and actions to minimise the risk of avoidable harm respected people’s freedoms and choices. People were supported by enough staff, who had been recruited safely, to meet their needs.

Medicines were stored, administered and recorded safely. When errors were identified appropriate actions had been taken. Accidents, incidents and safeguarding were reported appropriately and seen as a way to learn lessons and improve practice.

People had their needs and choices assessed and regularly reviewed. Care and support plans were person centred and provided details of the actions staff needed to take when caring for people including their end of life wishes.

Staff had received an induction, training and support that enabled them to carry out their roles effectively. People’s eating and drinking requirements were understood by both the catering and care teams and people were involved in decisions about the menus.

Access to healthcare was available for planned and emergency events and information was shared appropriately when people were transferred between services. During our inspection a visiting dental service was sourced as this had not been previously available to people.

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 and their families described the staff as kind and caring. We observed a friendly and relaxed relationship between people and the staff team. People felt listened to and involved in decisions about their day to day lives. Advocacy was available for people if needed. Staff understood the importance of protecting people’s privacy, dignity and independence.

A complaints process was in place and people and their families felt if they needed to raise a complaint appropriate actions would be taken.

The registered manager promoted an open and transparent culture and understood their legal responsibilities for sharing information with CQC and the local authority. Quality assurance processes were robust and effective at monitoring and improving service delivery. Staff spoke positively about teamwork at Avon Reach and had a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

People, their families and staff had opportunities to be involved in the development of the service and felt they had a voice. Community links had been made which provided people with additional opportunities to be involved in their local area.