Rugby Avenue

Updated 17 June 2022

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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector on site and one inspector assessed documents off site.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in one ‘supported living’ setting, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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. At the time of this inspection the service had no manager registered with the Care Quality Commission.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small, and people were often out, and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service and one relative about their experience of the care provided. All people who used the service were able to communicate with us verbally.

We spoke with four members of staff including the regional director, one manager who acted in the absence of the service manager and two care staff.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and two medicines records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision, and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.

Updated 17 June 2022

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 Care Quality Commission (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

Rugby Avenue is a supported living service for people with learning disabilities and autistic people. On the day of our inspection the service provided support to three people. The service has capacity to provide support to five people.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Right Support: The model of care and setting maximises people’s choice, control and Independence; for example, people who used the service were consulted where and whom they wanted to live with. The service had a strong focus of supporting people to gain greater independence and the service sought support from external professionals to make this possible. People’s support was tailored around their abilities and skills to maximise their wellbeing and staff supported them to achieve their goals and dreams.

Right Care: Care was person-centred and promoted people’s dignity, privacy and human rights. People who used the service received dignified care and support. Relatives told us that they were very happy with the care people received and that the service had a good understanding of people’s needs around behaviours autistic people and people with learning disabilities may display. People and relatives were fully involved in their care and care was planned to ensure people received the best possible outcomes.

Right culture: The ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff ensured people using services led confident, inclusive and empowered lives. The culture and ethos of the service was to empower people to become more independent. One care staff told us, “The purpose of working here is supporting people to have as much choice as possible and live the best fulfilling life, they can.”

People were protected from the risk of harm and abuse. There were effective systems and processes in place to minimise risks to people. Risks had been identified, assessed and reviewed. Care staff knew how to identify and report concerns. They had been recruited safely and showed good knowledge and skills in relevant areas including medicines administration and infection control. They demonstrated dignity, respect and compassion in interactions with people.

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 had a range of quality assurance processes, including systems necessary to maintain safe environments. The manager and staff ensured policies and procedures met current legislation and were up to date. Relatives told us they were asked for their views about the quality of the service.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update: The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good, (published on 19 September 2018).

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support right care right culture. This was a planned comprehensive inspection.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.