Hutton Avenue

Updated 25 September 2021

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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Hutton Avenue is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a 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.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

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.

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. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager, two nurses and two support workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people's care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff recruitment files. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed.

After the inspection

As no relatives were at the service on the day we inspected, we contacted them after our visit. We received feedback from three relatives.

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at recruitment records and evacuation training and procedures.

Updated 25 September 2021

About the service

Hutton Avenue is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care for up to nine autistic people and/or those living with a learning disability. There were nine people living at the service at the time of this inspection.

People's experience of using this service and what we found

Since the previous inspection improvements had been made to fire safety arrangements. Evacuation equipment was readily available and staff were confident using this. There were enough staff to meet people's needs. Medicines were managed effectively. Staff followed infection prevention and control guidelines. The premises were well maintained, clean and tidy.

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 and relatives had good relationships with staff members. Relatives were happy with the care provided and felt the service was safe. Relatives said staff were welcoming, professional and friendly. Staff knew people's individual needs well and how to support them with specific health needs, or if they became anxious or distressed.

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 the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture. People were provided with the right support which enabled them to make choices and promoted their independence. People received the right care that was provided in a person-centred way which promoted their dignity. The service provided the right culture for people in an environment where they were included and empowered by care staff.

The service had a manager who was registered with the Care Quality Commission. The registered manager and staff team promoted a positive culture which achieved good outcomes for people. Quality assurance processes were effective in identifying and generating improvements. There was a warm and welcoming atmosphere at the service.

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 (report published 6 December 2019) and there was a breach of regulation 12 (safe care and treatment) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

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

This was a planned inspection based on our inspection programme.

This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe and Well-led. 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 improved 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 Hutton Avenue 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.

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.