Background to this inspection
Updated
21 December 2019
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 Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
Avocet Trust – 1181 Holderness Road is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed all information we held about the service including past inspection reports and information they had needed to send us, for example when any incidents occurred. We asked the registered manager to send us some information about the service when we announced the inspection.
We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.
We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
Due to the complexity of their needs most people who used the service could not tell us about their experiences. We spoke with one person in detail, and made informal observations of care and support being provided. We spoke with the registered manager and three members of staff, and looked around the premises to check on maintenance and cleanliness. We contacted seven people’s relatives or primary carers to ask for their feedback about the service.
We reviewed a range of records including three people’s care plans and medicines records. We looked at records relating to staff recruitment, training and support. We also looked at the systems in place to monitor and improve quality in the service.
After the inspection
The registered manager provided information which helped validate our judgements.
Updated
21 December 2019
About the service
Avocet Trust 1181 Holderness Road is a respite service for people with learning disabilities. Accommodation is provided in a large, detached house on a residential road.
Services for people with learning disabilities and or autism are supported
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
The service was a domestic style property. It was registered for the support of up to eight people. When we inspected, six people were using the service. There were deliberately no identifying signs to indicate it was a care home. Staff wore casual clothes and were not identifiable as care workers when coming and going with people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were safe using the service. Any risks were well managed, and concerns about people’s welfare were managed appropriately. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs and ensure they got medicines when needed.
We have made a recommendation about ensuring staff always had information about medicines which were only given when needed.
Staff understood people’s needs and were trained and supported well. People had appropriate help to make and communicate decisions.
People and staff got on well. Staff included people in decisions about their care and support, and helped people remain as independent as possible.
Some documents lacked personalised information, however this had been recognised and work was underway to improve this. People could spend their time doing things they chose and enjoyed.
We have made a recommendation about adapting information to make it accessible for people using the service.
Management, staff, people and other appropriate people worked together to ensure the service was well-led. Monitoring of quality of care was good, and the service had helped people overcome day to day challenges they faced.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible.
Rating at last inspection (and update)
The last rating for this service was Good (report published 28 June 2017).
Why we inspected:
This inspection was part of our scheduled plan of visiting services to check the safety and quality of care people received.
Follow up:
We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk.