3 Roylen Ave

Updated 1 December 2018

We carried out this comprehensive 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.

3 Roylen Avenue is a ‘care home.’ People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Prior to our inspection visit we contacted the commissioning department at Blackpool Council and Blackpool Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion for health and social care. This gave us additional information about the service.

The inspection visit took place on 02 November 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the service was a small family home for one younger adult who is often out during the day. At the time of our inspection visit one person lived at the home who had lived as part of the family since childhood.

The inspection team consisted of an adult social care inspector.

During the visit we spoke with a range of people about the service. They included the person who lived at the home and registered provider. We also observed interactions between the person and the registered provider. This helped us understand the experiences of the person.

We looked at the person’s care records and discussed their activities and interests. We looked at records relating to the management of the home. We checked the environment and arrangements for meal provision. This enabled us to determine if the person received the care and support they needed in an appropriate environment.

Updated 1 December 2018

3 Roylen Avenue is a care home registered to accommodate one adult. It is a dormer bungalow in a street of similar properties and is run as an ordinary domestic household. The person has lived with the registered provider and their family for over 30 years, since childhood. He lives with the registered provider as a member of the family. He sees her as his 'mum' and is close to his 'brothers' who he grew up with. The house is close to shops, public transport and local amenities.

At our last inspection we rated the service Good in all domains. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good. 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.

The inspection visit took place on 02 November 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the service was a small care home for one adult and he is often out during the day.

At the time of our inspection visit one person lived at 3 Roylen Avenue.

The registered provider was an individual who managed the home on a day to day basis. Registered providers 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.

The registered provider was the person's carer. She did not employ any staff. Suitable arrangements were in place to protect the person and keep him safe. He told us he was happy and looked after and said, “I am safe with Mum.” He was involved in shopping for and choosing food. He told us, “Mum’s a good cook. She does the cooking.” He told us he made drinks and snacks for himself when he wanted and made a hot drink for the inspector.

The person showed us his care records about his support needs and routines. He had his healthcare needs met and told us his 'mum' supported him when he needed health appointments.

Although he did not routinely have medicines there was a safe process if he needed any medicines.

The building was a family home the registered provider shared with the person they supported. We found it had been maintained, was homely, clean and hygienic and a safe place for people to live. The person showed us his bedroom. This had been decorated since our last inspection. It was well personalised, comfortable and cheery.

The registered provider understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) (MCA and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). We saw no restrictions on the person's liberty during our inspection. He told us he was able to go out and make choices when he wanted. The registered provider provided care in a way that respected the person’s dignity, privacy and independence. The person told us he was cared for in the way he wanted.

We saw the person enjoyed a variety of meaningful work opportunities, educational and leisure activities. These gave him the opportunity to develop new skills, socialise and get involved in a variety of activities.

The person told us he knew how to complain if needed but was happy living with his ’mum’. He could have access to an external advocate should he want this. There was no formal internal quality assurance in place but informal checks were made routinely. The person and his 'mum' routinely discussed plans or changes, activities and holidays. We found the registered provider was open and transparent. She focused on the needs of the person and on his wellbeing and strived to give him the best life possible.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.