Background to this inspection
Updated
4 May 2017
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.
The inspection was an unannounced comprehensive inspection and took place on the 28 March and 5 April 2017. The inspection was undertaken by one inspector.
Before the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service. This included notifications, which are documents submitted to us to advise of events that have happened in the service and the provider is required to tell us about. The provider also completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used this information to plan what we were going to focus on during our inspection.
Due to the registered manager not being available the inspection was completed with the Deputy Operations Manager. During the inspection we spoke with three members of the care team. Not everyone who used the service were able to communicate verbally with us. Due to this we observed people, spoke with staff, reviewed records and looked at other information which helped us to assess how people’s care needs were being met. We spent time observing care in the communal areas and also spoke with those who were able to verbally communicate.
As part of the inspection we reviewed three people’s care records. This included their care plans and risk assessments. The service had not employed any new staff so we were unable to look at recruitment and induction processes, but these had been suitable in past inspections. We looked at staff support records and also a sample of the service’s policies, their audits, the staff rotas, complaint and compliment records, medication records and training.
Updated
4 May 2017
Woolifer Avenue provides accommodation and support for up to three people who have a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder, and physical or sensory disabilities. On the day of our inspection the service did not have any vacancies.
The service had a registered manager. 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.
At the last inspection the service was rated as Good. At this inspection the service remained Good.
The service was safe. Staff showed a good knowledge of safeguarding procedures and were clear about the actions they would take to protect people. People were kept safe and risk assessments had been completed to show how people were supported with every day risks. The service had a recruitment process in place which required certain checks to be carried out before staff started work, which helped to ensure that they were suitable to work in a care setting. There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty to meet people’s needs. People’s medication was well managed and people received their medication as prescribed.
The service was effective. Staff had been offered training to help ensure they had the skills and knowledge required for their role as a care worker. They also received regular support and felt well supported by the management team. People were supported to be able to eat and drink sufficient amounts to meet their needs. People were supported to maintain good healthcare and had access to a range of healthcare services. The service kept clear records about all healthcare visits.
The service was caring. People had agreed to their care and had been asked how they would like this to be provided. They were treated with dignity and respect and staff provided care in a kind, caring and sensitive manner. Meetings had been held for the people living at the service, relatives and for the staff. Where possible people’s views and opinions had been sought and the service had listened and made the appropriate improvements.
The service was responsive. Detailed assessments had been carried out and care plans were developed around people’s needs and preferences. The service had a clear complaints procedure in place which was clearly displayed. This provided information on the process and the timespan for response.
The service was well-led. Staff, relatives, healthcare professionals and those living at the service spoke positively about the registered manager and felt the service was well managed. There were systems in place to regularly assess the service and ensure it was providing a quality service and keeping people safe.