16 June 2021
During an inspection looking at part of the service
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were no longer at risk from unsafe care and treatment. Improvements had been made in relation to the Infection Prevention Control issues identified at our previous inspection, which led to enforcement action.
We were assured that the provider was monitoring the use of PPE for effectiveness and people’s safely.
Staff had received safeguarding training and were clear on how and when to raise their concerns. Where appropriate, actions were taken to keep people safe.
Records provided guidance to ensure people received safe, person-centred care and support from all staff members. Systems were in place for people to receive their medicines in a safe way.
People and relatives were complimentary about the care provided by staff. They trusted the staff who supported them. They said staff were kind, caring and supportive of people and their families. One relative said, "The staff are lovely and they employ good staff."
There was a cheerful atmosphere at the service. Staff spoke very positively about working at the home and the people they cared for. Staff said the manager was very approachable and they were supported in their role.
A quality assurance system was in place to assess the standards of care in the service.
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.
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting some of the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture. Systems were in place to ensure the right culture was being promoted that people’s human rights were respected and their opinions were listened to and valued. People were supported to make choices and achieve their aspirations. Staff adopted the ethos to provide person-centred care that enabled individuals to develop skills and behaviours to live more independent lives. A relative told us, "[Name] has learned a lot since they have been there – staff have taught [Name] how to get ready, they pick their own clothes and food choices."
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 25 March 2021). The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Why we inspected
We carried out an announced focused inspection of this service on 21 January 2021. A breach of legal requirements was found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve to ensure people received safe care and treatment.
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 which contain those requirements.
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.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Azure Charitable Enterprises-Washington on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
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.
We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating 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.