Background to this inspection
Updated
31 January 2018
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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
This was a comprehensive inspection.
This inspection took place on 4 January 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the location was a small care home for younger adults who are often out during the day. We needed to be sure that they would be in.
The inspection team consisted of an adult social care inspector.
We reviewed the information we held about the service before we carried out the visit. We collated information we had about the home. Prior to the inspection the provider had submitted a Provider Information Return (PIR) to us. The PIR is a document the provider is required to submit to us which provides key information about the service, and tells us what the provider considers the service does well and details any improvements they intend to make.
During the inspection we used a number of different methods to help us understand the experiences of people who lived at 1a Gainsborough Avenue. This was because some of the people who lived at 1a Gainsborough Avenue communicated in different ways and we were not always able to directly ask them their views about their experiences. We spent a short time observing the support provided to help us understand people’s experiences of the service. Our observations showed people appeared relaxed and at ease with the staff. We spoke with two people who lived in the home, three staff, including the registered manager. We looked at the care records for three people, as well as medication records, four staff recruitment files and other records relevant to the quality monitoring of the service. These included safety audits and quality audits. We undertook general observations and looked round the home.
Updated
31 January 2018
1a Gainsborough Avenue is a residential care home for three people with learning disabilities. The property is a dorma bungalow and has two bedrooms, a large and small lounge, kitchen and bathroom downstairs, with a further two bedrooms and toilet on the first floor. There is a large paved area at the front and rear of the building. There were three people living in the home at the time of the inspection.
At the last inspection, the service was rated Good.
At this inspection we found the service remained Good.
Why the service is rated Good.
Risk assessments were in place specific to people’s individual needs and the activities they took part in.
Medicines were managed safely and people received their medicines as prescribed.
Staff had been appropriately recruited to ensure they were suitable to work with vulnerable adults. There was sufficient staff on duty to meet people's needs.
The home was well maintained and in good decorative order. Measures were in place to ensure the environment was safe and suitable for the people who lived there. Repairs to the building were recorded and attended to in a timely way.
People's needs were assessed and care plans were completed to demonstrate the support required. People saw their local health care professional when they needed to.
Staff received a programme of mandatory training and regular supervision. Staff meetings were held to support staff in their role.
People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice. People made decisions and choices in relation to their care, support received and daily activities.
Staff knew people’s dietary needs and preferences. They supported people to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced diet.
Staff showed kindness towards the people in the home. People were supported to maintain their independence with activities of daily living. People went out for social events and were supported to attend health appointments.
House meetings’ were held each month and enabled people living in the home and staff to discuss day to day issues and make plans for events, such as holidays. People made suggestions about places to visit or new activities they wished to try.
Care plans were written for the individual and informed staff of their preferences and wishes. These documents were regularly updated to reflect people's change in need or preference. People enjoyed a range of activities.
A complaints policy was in place but no complaints had been received.
There was a person-centred and open culture in the home. Staff reported that manager was approachable and supportive. Staff worked as a team and supported each other.
Quality assurance and governance systems were in place to help the registered manager and provider to monitor standards and drive forward improvements.
The registered manager and provider met their legal requirements with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). They had submitted notifications relating to incidents and the rating from the last assessment was clearly displayed.