We carried out a review of the data available to us about Avalon York Services 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 Avalon York Services, you can give feedback on this service.
This service is a domiciliary care agency and at the time of our inspection 84 people received a service. It provides a service to children aged 13-18 years, people living with dementia, learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder, mental health, and to older people and younger adults.
The service provides care and support to 28 people living in their own houses as part of a community service and at the time of our inspection two of those people were in receipt of the regulated activity of personal care.
The service also provides care and support to four people living in ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live in their own home as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. The care Quality Commission (CQC) does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support. At the time of this inspection there were two people living in supported living and receiving personal care.
The service also provided care and support to 56 people living as part of a shared lives scheme. Shared lives schemes are designed to support adults with learning disabilities, mental health problems, or other needs that make it harder for them to live on their own. The schemes match an adult who has care needs with an approved shared lives carer. These carers share their family and community life, and give care and support to the adult with care needs. At the time of this inspection 34 people were on a long term shared lives service, 14 were on short breaks and seven people received a day break with a shared lives carer. 23 of the people who received a shared lives service received support with the regulated activity of personal care. CQC does not regulate premises used for shared lives; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support service.
Not everyone using Avalon York services receives regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided.
At the last inspection, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.
Systems and processes were maintained to record, evaluate and action any outcomes where safeguarding concerns had been raised which helped to keep people safe from avoidable harm and abuse.
Assessments of risks associated with people’s care and support and for their environment had been completed. People who used the service were safe in respect of staffing levels, recruitment, management of medicines and infection control.
The service continued to provide effective care to people who used the service because care workers were supported to have the skills, knowledge and supervision they needed to carry out their roles.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and care workers supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
Care workers continued to be caring, paying attention to people’s well-being, privacy, dignity and independence.
Care workers upheld principles of equality and diversity and championed people’s rights when out in the community or receiving healthcare and other services.
People’s support plans continued to be person-centred and people continued to undertake activities, education and employment wherever possible.
People followed the complaint procedures to have their views listened to and their needs met.
The service continued to operate an open and inclusive management style where people fully participated in the running of their care provision.
A quality assurance system remained effective with oversight at provider and director level. People and their carer workers were consulted and action plans formulated that aimed to improve the quality and delivery of the service.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.
The service is registered to provide personal care for people with a range of varying needs including dementia and learning disabilities who live in their own homes, or within supported living schemes. Supported living schemes help people to live independently in the community. People are responsible for their own tenancies, and receive an agreed level of caring and housing related support to meet their needs. At the time of our inspection 28 people received a personal care service.
The registered provider is required to have a registered manager in post and on the day of this inspection there was a registered manager registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People who used the service told us they felt safe and we found that staff knew how to protect people from avoidable harm. Risk assessments and risk management plans were in place and they were regularly reviewed and updated in line with the person’s needs.
The service had a robust recruitment policy and enough staff was employed to ensure there was minimal disruption to the service people received. People had regular carers who they knew and who knew them. They were made aware of any changes in care workers so they knew who would be visiting them.
Care workers were put through a six week induction and training programme before starting shadow shifts with existing carers; this was so they could get to know the people receiving a service. Medication training was included as part of the induction and was one of the competency checks undertaken by the service to ensure people were receiving their medication in a safe and controlled way.
Care workers told us they felt well supported and we saw good communication and relationships between care workers, management, people who used the service and outside agencies such as the local authority and health workers. The registered provider worked closely with Macmillan nurses when support with end of life care was required.
Care workers and management had a good working knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act supported by robust training and an up to date policy and procedure.
People had up to date person centred support plans and risk assessments. They were included in developing these plans when possible and we saw the plans were regularly reviewed and updated as the person’s needs changed.
People were encouraged to live as independently as possible and to make their own decisions. Where people did not have capacity, the correct processes were followed and measures put into place to ensure people received care that was in their best interest. Identified risks were managed with effective results and outcomes.
People told us and we observed that care workers were caring. They also told us their dignity and privacy was respected.
People were encouraged to join Avalink a committee of people receiving services that discuss best practice, improvement and voice their opinions on any changes brought around by ongoing quality assurance programmes across the North East of England. We found the service was well managed and the organisations values and ethos of promoting independence was understood and implemented by all.