Cambian Asperger Syndrome Services Limited - 14 Southwood Avenue

Updated 25 February 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors 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.

Service and service type

Cambian Asperger Syndrome Services Limited - 14 Southwood Avenue is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Cambian Asperger Syndrome Services Limited - 14 Southwood Avenue is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the 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. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 6 people who used the service and 3 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 8 members of staff including the nominated individual, registered manager, assistant house manager, and care workers. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 4 people's care records and 2 medication records. We looked at 2 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service including governance audits, policies and procedures were reviewed. We looked at staffing levels to ensure people’s needs could be met.

Updated 25 February 2023

About the service

Cambian Asperger Syndrome Services Limited - 14 Southwood Avenue is a care home that provides accommodation and personal care for up to 7 people diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders and learning disabilities. At the time of this inspection there were 6 people living at the home.

The service is situated in the Southbourne area of Bournemouth. The premises comprised of a three-story house with 7 bedrooms all with en-suite facilities and communal living areas. These included a kitchen/diner a separate lounge and one room referred to as a chill out room. The garden provided areas for both recreation and seating for people to use as they wish.

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

People told us they were very happy living at Cambian Asperger Syndrome Services Limited - 14 Southwood Avenue which they affectionately called “SWA” One person told us, “I’m happy living here at SWA. I don’t like leaving.”

Staff had an excellent understanding of people’s individual needs relating to their protected characteristics and their values and beliefs. Staff had been extremely responsive to the individual needs of the people living at the home creating excellent positive outcomes for people. One person told us, “It's the best thing I've ever done (coming here) I am being supported to be myself.”

Staff had supported people to be as independent as possible. Positive risk assessments had been completed with people to manage any risks incurred by taking further steps towards independence. People were supported to manage their own medicines and medicines were managed safely. One relative told us, “[person] has already progressed over and above our expectations since they moved in.”

There were enough staff to support people. This included supporting people on a 1:1 basis if required. People told us they felt safe. Staff had access to personal protective equipment (PPE), and the service had a robust infection prevention and control process in place. Lessons were learned from incidents and learning was shared with all staff to prevent re-occurrence.

Staff had assessed people’s needs before they moved in to the home. Individualised person-centred care plans had been created with people, and in consultation with people who were important to them. People were supported to eat a balanced healthy diet and could access food and drinks whenever they wanted. The service worked well with other organisations and supported people to access healthcare when required.

We could not distinguish staff from people when we arrived due to the friendly, comfortable and relaxed atmosphere of the home. People were treated as equals with dignity and respect by staff who knew them well. People told us staff were very kind and caring.

People, relatives, healthcare professionals and staff spoke positively about the registered manager and the assistant house manager. We received comments such as, “they do an amazing job”, “they are open and listen” and, “they are professional, discreet and great.”

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 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.

Right Support:

Staff supported people to have the maximum possible choice, control and independence be independent and they had control over their own lives.

Staff focused on people’s strengths and promoted what they could do, so people had a fulfilling and meaningful everyday life.

People were supported by staff to pursue their interests.

Staff supported people to achieve their aspirations and goals.

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.

Right Care:

People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people’s privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to their individual needs.

Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. The service worked well with other agencies to do so. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it.

The service had enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe.

People could communicate with staff and understand information given to them because staff supported them consistently and understood their individual communication needs.

Right Culture:

People led inclusive and empowered lives because of the ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the management and staff.

People received good quality care, support and treatment because trained staff and specialists could meet their needs and wishes.

People were supported by staff who understood best practice in relation to the wide range of strengths, impairments or sensitivities people with a learning disability and/or autistic people may have. This meant people received compassionate and empowering care that was tailored to their needs.

Staff knew and understood people well and were responsive, supporting their aspirations to live a quality life of their choosing.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 10 August 2019).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurances that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.