Archived: Care Management Group - Carlton Avenue

Updated 28 December 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 was planned to check 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.

This was a comprehensive unannounced inspection. It took place on the 21 November 2017.

The inspection was carried out by one inspector and an expert by experience. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Before the inspection we looked at information we held about the service. This information included notifications sent to the Care Quality Commission [CQC] and all other contact that we had with the home since the previous inspection. We used this information to inform the planning of the inspection.

We engaged with all the people using the service. Most people due to their complex needs communicated mainly by gestures, signing, sounds and behaviour and were not able to tell us about their experience of living in the home. To gain further understanding of people's experience of the service we spent time observing how they were supported by staff.

During the inspection we spoke with the registered manager, deputy manager, one senior care worker, two care workers and five people’s relatives. Before the inspection we had contact with the host local authority quality monitoring team about the service.

We reviewed a variety of records which related to people's individual care and the running of the home. These records included, care files of three people living in the home, three staff records, audits, and policies and procedures that related to the management of the service.

Updated 28 December 2017

Care Management Group- Carlton Avenue is care home which is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for a maximum of 9 people who have profound learning disabilities, all of whom have physical needs. At the time of this inspection there were 8 people living in the home.

At the last inspection on 26 May 2016, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Staff engaged with people using the service in a positive way. Staff were respectful and showed a good understanding of each person’s complex needs and abilities. Person-centred care records ensured that the service met people’s individual needs and preferences.

There were arrangements in place to keep people safe and to help safeguard people from the risk of abuse. Staff understood their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding people, whistleblowing and reporting all concerns to do with people’s safety.

Risk assessments were in place to minimise the risk of people and staff from being harmed. Checks and appropriate service tests had been carried out to make sure that the premises were safe.

Appropriate recruitment procedures were in place to help protect people from the risks of being cared for by unsuitable staff.

Staff received the training and support that they needed to carry out their responsibilities in delivering care that was effective and responsive.

Medicines were stored securely and managed safely by staff assessed as competent to do so. Staff supported people to maintain their health and to access healthcare services when needed.

People's wide range of dietary needs and preferences were supported by the service.

Staff understood their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 [MCA] and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards [DoLS]. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

There was a management structure in the service which provided clear lines of responsibility and accountability. The provider had effective systems in place to assess the quality of the service. Regular checks and audits were carried out on the quality of care and safety of people and improvements were made when needed.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.