Cromwell Avenue

Updated 26 February 2019

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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.

We inspected Cromwell Avenue on 22 January 2019. This was an unannounced inspection which meant the staff and the provider did not know we would be visiting. Before our inspection we reviewed the information, we held about the service, including safeguarding alerts and statutory notifications which related to the service. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. The provider had completed a Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once a year to give some key information about the service, including what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

The inspection team consisted of one inspector and an expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

During our inspection we spoke with three people who lived in the service, two support workers and the registered manager. We looked at three people’s care records, three staff records, the training matrix and daily record logs. We also looked at information which related to the management of the service such as health and safety records and quality monitoring audits.

Updated 26 February 2019

The service provides care and support to people with learning disabilities and/or autistic spectrum conditions. Five people were being supported by the service at the time of the inspection.

People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

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 demonstrated an excellent 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 really 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 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 supervision, 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.

Staff demonstrated a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. People using the service were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The service ensured people were treated with kindness, respect and compassion. People also received emotional support when needed. People told us they were involved in planning the care and support they received and were able to maintain their independence as much as possible. Information was provided to people in formats they could understand.

Care plans were personalised and described the holistic care and support each person required, together with details of their strengths and aspirations. Information also explained how people could be supported to ensure they consistently had a good quality of life. People’s comments and concerns were listened to and taken seriously.

People who used the service and staff spoke highly of the management team and told us they felt supported. CQC’s registration requirements were met and complied with and effective quality assurance procedures were in place.

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.

The service was well led. There was a clear set of values in place which all the staff put into practice. The registered manager regularly completed quality assurance checks, to make sure the high standards of care were maintained. There was an open culture and staff said they felt well motivated and valued.