Avalon

Updated 20 July 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

One inspector conducted the inspection.

Service and service type

Avalon 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. The registered manager was also registered to manage another service for people with a learning disability in the local area. We inspected both services together

This inspection was unannounced. This inspection was undertaken on 25 June 2019.

What we did before the 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. 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. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager, assistant manager, and support workers

The majority of people we met had complex needs and were not able to tell us of their experiences of life at the home. We therefore used our observations of care and our discussion with relatives, professionals and staff to help form our judgements.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medicines 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 looked at training data and quality assurance records. We requested feedback from professionals who regularly visit the service.

Updated 20 July 2019

About the service - Avalon is a residential care home registered to provide accommodation with personal care for eight people who have a learning disability. There were eight people living at the service on the day of our inspection. The premises are single storey and wheelchair accessible.

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 - Relatives made positive comments about the care provided at Avalon.

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.

Mental capacity assessments were not always completed in line with law. We have made a recommendation that mental capacity assessments are reviewed.

All known and expected risks in the service had been identified and mitigated. Positive risk taking was also supported within the service.

Staff were recruited safely, were visible in the service and responded to people quickly.

Staff knew people well and had developed meaningful relationships with them.

People could take part in a range of activities internal and external to the service which promoted their wellbeing.

People's health was well managed and there were positive links with other services to ensure that individual health and nutritional needs were met.

People received their medicines when they needed them.

End of life care plans were not always in place for people. We have made a recommendation about this.

Relatives and professionals made positive comments about the management team at the service.

People were treated with dignity and respect.

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 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

This service was registered with us on 29 March 2018 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on our inspection programme.

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.