Background to this inspection
Updated
3 December 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
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
Alexander Villa 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.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was announced. We spoke with the registered manager on the morning of our intended arrival and arranged a time to visit the home that afternoon.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke with the one person who used the service. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager and four care workers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included one person’s care medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We spoke with one professional who was in regular contact with the service.
Updated
3 December 2019
About the service
Alexandra Villa is a small care home providing personal care to one person. The service can support up to two people.
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
The home was clean and tidy, but the lounge lacked homeliness. We made a recommendation about this.
The registered manager and the staff understood how to keep the person safe. They understood risks and how to mitigate them. Staff were subject to recruitment checks before they were employed in the service. Appropriate staff cover was provided at all times. Safety checks were carried out to make sure the home was a safe place in which to live.
Staff were supported using supervision, appraisal and training. The staff were aware of the need for a nutritious diet. They supported the person to have a healthy lifestyle and assisted them to attend appointments.
Staff treated the person well. They were kind and worked to ensure the person’s well-being was promoted.
The person was supported to have maximum choice and control of their life 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.
Care plans contained accurate information. Access was provided to the complaints procedure and staff worked with the person to use the procedure as a means of opening up discussion and addressing any of their concerns.
Staff felt supported by the registered manager. Systems were in place to audit the quality of the service. A new auditing process had recently been introduced by the provider. This required further development.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that the person using 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 the person using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. The person’s support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
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 good (published 4 May 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.