Background to this inspection
Updated
4 July 2023
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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Inspection team
The inspection site visit was conducted by 1 inspector. Another inspector supported the inspection by making phone calls to staff. An Expert by Experience made phone calls to people who used the service and their relatives. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.
Registered Manager
This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post. The registered manager was in charge of all 3 branches. There was also a branch manager responsible for the day to day running of this service.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 13 June 2023 and ended on 20 June 2023. We visited the location’s office on 20 June 2023.
What we did before the inspection
We looked at all the information we held about the service. This included notifications of significant events from the provider, as well as information from the local authority and members of the public. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make.
During the inspection
We spoke with 5 people who used the service and the relatives of 9 other people. We also spoke with 9 care staff, the deputy manager, the registered manager, and the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We received feedback from 1 external professional who works with the service.
We looked at the care records for 8 people using the service and 8 staff records. We looked at other records used by the provider for managing the service. These included records of audits, complaints, and meeting minutes.
Updated
4 July 2023
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.
About the service
Avant (Hillingdon) Healthcare Services Limited is a care agency providing personal care and support to people living in the London Borough of Hillingdon. They provide care to adults and children with disabilities and older adults. This includes caring for people with learning disabilities, autistic adults and children. The organisation is a private limited company and there are 2 other branches.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of our inspection 43 adults and 26 children were receiving personal care and support.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture.
Right Support: The service supported people to have the maximum possible choice, control, and independence. The staff focused on people's strengths so people could have meaningful and active lives. The staff did everything possible to avoid restraining people. The staff supported people to access health and social care support in the community. Staff supported people with their medicines to achieve the best possible health outcome.
Right Care: Staff promoted people's equality and diversity. They understood their cultural needs. Staff were kind and caring. They protected and respected people's privacy and dignity. Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. The service worked well with other organisations to help protect people. There were enough skilled staff to meet people's needs and care for them safely. People were able to communicate with staff and understand information because the staff met their individual communication needs.
Right culture: People led inclusive lives and were empowered by the ethos and values of the organisation. People were supported by staff who understood about best practice. Staff placed people's wishes and needs at the centre of their work. They valued people's beliefs and choices. Staff felt well supported and respected by managers.
For more information, please read the detailed findings section of this report. If you are reading this as a separate summary, the full report can be found on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 10 August 2018)
Why we inspected
We undertook this inspection based on the date of the last inspection.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.