We carried out a review of the data available to us about The Lavenders on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about The Lavenders, you can give feedback on this service.
We found the following examples of good practice.
•The provider had appropriate arrangements for visiting to help prevent the spread of Covid 19. All visitors were required to complete a risk assessment and a checklist, prior to entering the building. Visitors had their temperatures taken on arrival. They were supported to wear a face covering and maintain hand hygiene during their visit. The service had a garden area to facilitate safe visiting for families. However, people were not currently receiving any visits from families due to the tier 2 restrictions in place.
•The provider had appropriate arrangements to test people and staff for Covid 19 and was following government guidance on testing. There was a designated team of staff that carried out all testing on people and staff at the home. This ensured that people and staff were tested for Covid 19 in a consistent way.
•The provider ensured that staff received appropriate training and support to manage Covid 19. All staff had received training on Covid 19, infection control and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). They received guidance on supporting people with autism to understand Covid 19. Staff wellbeing was supported when they became unwell and when they returned to work.
•There were sanitiser points available throughout the building and thorough cleaning was done daily, this included cleaning of all door knobs, hand rails and wheelchairs.
•Mealtimes were staggered, and meals served in different rooms to facilitate social distancing
•All people admitted to the home were required to have a test before admission and appropriate systems were in place to ensure safe transfer.
•The provider ensured that people using the service could maintain links with family members and friends. People were supported to keep in touch by phone and virtual technology. The service was preparing a room with a separate entrance to facilitate safe visiting for families in the future.
• The provider had a named clinical lead who was providing regular weekly surgeries at the service.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.
The Lavenders is a seven bedded care home for people with learning disabilities. On the day of our visit there were six people living in the home.
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
People told us people they were happy with the care and support they received because they felt safe and all their needs were met by kind and caring staff.
People praised the manager of the service and agreed that they were approachable, knowledgeable, fair and did their job well. The staff team worked well together and supported the manager.
The staff team was committed to providing a high-quality service and keeping people safe. They had undertaken training so that they were skilled and knowledgeable to effectively meet people’s needs. Staff understood their responsibilities to report any concerns.
Staff encouraged people to be as independent as possible and respected people’s privacy and dignity. Staff knew people well. Staff managed the risks to people’s health and welfare.
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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.
People were given choices about the way in which they were cared for. Staff listened to them and knew their needs well. When people did not have the capacity to make their own decisions, staff maximised their involvement and made decisions in their best interests, in accordance with legislation.
Care plans contained detailed information about each person’s individual support needs and preferences in relation to their care and health and we found evidence of good outcomes for people
Recruitment practices were safe and relevant checks had been completed before staff worked at the service,
People told us staff were able to meet their needs and were respectful of their individual preferences. Relatives told us staff who supported their family members were kind and caring.
People received care and support from a small group of staff, which provided consistency.
The managers of the service actively sought the views of people and their relatives about the running of the service and they dealt promptly with any concerns that people raised.
The provider had systems in place to monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service provided.
More information is in the full report.
Rating at last inspection.
At the last inspection we rated this service Good. The report was published on 21 July 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 reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
The Lavenders is a seven bed care home for people with learning disabilities. On the day of our visit there were seven people living in the home.
People experienced good care and support. They were supported to live safe, fulfilled and meaningful lives in the way they wanted to.
People were supported with healthy eating and to maintain a healthy weight, with specialist diets when required. People who needed assistance with meal preparation were supported and encouraged to make choices about what they ate and drank. The support staff we spoke with demonstrated a sound knowledge of people’s care needs, significant people and events in their lives, and their daily routines and preferences. They also understood the provider’s safeguarding procedures and could explain how they would protect people if they had any concerns
Staff told us they enjoyed working in the home and spoke positively about the culture and management of the service. Staff told us that they were encouraged to openly discuss any issues. Staff said they enjoyed their jobs and described management as supportive. Staff confirmed they were able to raise issues and make suggestions about the way the service was provided.
There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
The service was safe and there were appropriate safeguards in place to help protect the people who lived there. People were able to make choices about the way in which they were cared for. Staff listened to them and knew their needs well. Staff had the training and support they needed.
Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people’s needs. Recruitment practices were safe and relevant checks had been completed before staff worked at the home. People’s medicines were managed appropriately so they received them safely.
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) provides a legal framework for making particular decisions on behalf of people who may lack the mental capacity to do so for themselves. The Act requires that as far as possible people make their own decisions and are helped to do so when needed. When they lack mental capacity to take particular decisions, any made on their behalf must be in their best interests and as least restrictive as possible.
The service was meeting the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Appropriate mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions had been undertaken by relevant professionals. This ensured that the decision was taken in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005, DoLS and associated Codes of Practice.
People participated in a range of different social activities and were supported to access the local community. They also participated in shopping for the home and their own needs. The registered manager and staff ensured everyone was supported to maintain good health. Staff took a very proactive approach to ensuring people's complex health needs were always met, and consistently ensured that when people needed specialist input from health care professionals they got it.
Staff were caring and always ensured they treated people with dignity and respect. They had a good understanding of the care and support needs of every person living in the home. People had developed very positive relationships with staff and there was a friendly and relaxed atmosphere in the home.
Staff were well supported with training, supervision and appraisal which helped them to ensure they provided very effective care for people.
People and those important to them, such as their relatives or professionals were asked for feedback about the quality of the service.
The registered manager and staff knew what they should do if anyone made a complaint.Person centred care was fundamental to the service and staff made sure people were at the centre of their practice. Care plans focused on the whole person, and assessments and plans were regularly updated.
People's individual preferences, needs and choices were always taken into account by the caring and compassionate staff.
The service was well led. The registered manager and the provider’s quality team regularly completed robust quality assurance checks, to make sure standards of care were maintained.
We inspected The Lavenders on 31 March 2015. This was an unannounced inspection.
The Lavenders is a seven bed care home for people with learning disabilities. On the day of our visit there were seven people living in the home
People told us they were very happy with the care and support they received.
People who needed assistance with meal preparation were well supported and encouraged to make choices about what they ate and drank. The care staff we spoke with demonstrated a good knowledge of people’s care needs, significant people and events in their lives, and their daily routines and preferences. They also understood the provider’s safeguarding procedures and could explain how they would protect people if they had any concerns.
Staff told us they enjoyed working in the home and spoke positively about the culture and management of the service. Staff told us that they were encouraged to openly discuss any issues. Staff said they enjoyed their jobs and described management as supportive. Staff confirmed they were able to raise issues and make suggestions about the way the service was provided.
The registered manager had been in post since March 2014. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
The service was safe and there were appropriate safeguards in place to help protect the people who lived there. People were able to make choices about the way in which they were cared for. Staff listened to them and knew their needs well. Staff had the training and support they needed. Relatives of people living at the home and other professionals were happy with the service. There was evidence that staff and managers at the home had been involved in reviewing and monitoring the quality of the service to make sure it improved.
Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people’s needs. Recruitment practices were safe and relevant checks had been completed before staff worked at the home. People’s medicines were managed appropriately so they received them safely.
The service was meeting the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards(DoLS). Appropriate mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions had been undertaken by relevant professionals. This ensured that the decisions was taken in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005, DoLS and associated Codes of Practice.
People had participated in a range of different social activities individually and as a group and were supported to access the local community. Activities included visits to parks, museums and the zoo and going to discos. They also participated in shopping for the home and their own needs, and some people had recently been on holiday together with staff support. Some people were also supported to go to college and day care centres.
The registered manager provided good leadership and people using the service, relatives and professionals we contacted told us the manager promoted high standards of care.
We found that the service sought consent for care and support, and followed the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 when people were unable to consent. We saw that each person had a full assessment of needs prior to moving into the service, and that the service met their individual needs.
We saw that people were provided with a good variety of healthy food, and their individual dietary requirements were met. The premises were clean and met standards for infection control. Staff working in the service were qualified, skilled and experienced, and had undergone training relevant to their roles.
We saw that records were mostly accurate and fit for purpose, however the personal records of people who had lived in the service for several years required updating to ensure they clearly reflect the person's current circumstances and needs.
Two relatives who spoke with us on the phone confirmed that people who use the service had been treated with respect and dignity and their care needs had been attended to. They had been consulted and kept informed regarding the welfare and progress of their relatives. There were appropriate arrangements in place to manage medicines.The medication records examined indicated that people had been given their medication as prescribed.
Relatives spoke highly of staff and indicated that staff did a good job and were professional in their approach. Staff records indicated that staff had received essential training and were supported by the manager. The views of relatives can be summarised by the following comment, 'I am satisfied with the care provided to my relative. My relative was dressed properly and looked well when I visited.'
Observations indicated that staff looked after people and provided support that met their needs. A person we spoke to told us that they were happy living at the home. They said they liked to stay at home but occasionally went out to parks and shops with staff.
We saw that staff treated people using the service with respect. A person we talked to said they liked staff. Relatives told us they trusted staff and they were confident people received appropriate care and support that met their needs.
Relatives told us staff gave them up-to-date information whenever they visited or contacted by telephone. They said they felt confident people using the service received support and care they required. A person who uses the service told us staff were available to care for them. During our visit most of people who use the service had gone out to follow various activities outlined in their programme of activities. This indicated that they were kept mentally and socially stimulated.
Observations indicated that staff listened to people. A person using the service told us they were happy with the way staff interacted with them. Relatives of people using the service told us they had been asked for feedback about their view on the quality of the service. We saw minutes of residents' meeting which indicated that people were able to make comments about the facilities and services.