We conducted an announced inspection of 63 Eton Avenue on 31 October 2018. The service is a small home providing care and support for up to three people with learning disabilities, autism and behaviours that may be challenging. There were three people living at the home when we visited. At our last inspection we rated the home as Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.
The home had a registered manager in post. 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.
Procedures were in place to ensure that people were safe from harm, Personalised risk assessments for people were up to date. Staff members had received training in safeguarding of adults from abuse and understood their roles and responsibilities in ensuring that people were safe.
People’s medicines were managed safely. They were stored and administered appropriately. Accurate records were made when medicines were given. Staff members had received training in the safe administration of medicines.
People had personalised care plans in place. These were reviewed regularly and updated to reflect any change in needs. One person’s care plan had been developed in an easy read picture assisted format and the home was planning to ensure that all care plans were made accessible in the near future.
People’s care plans and risk assessments included guidance for staff on supporting people’s communication needs. Staff members communicated with people in ways that they understood, using, for example, objects and gestures along with words where appropriate. Behavioural plans were in place which focused on minimising people’s anxieties.
All staff members working at the home had been safely recruited. References and criminal record checks were taken up prior to their appointment. New staff members received an induction to ensure they had the knowledge required to prepare them for their role. All staff members were provided with a range of training sessions which were relevant to their work. This training was regularly refreshed to ensure that staff maintained their skills and knowledge. All staff members had received regular supervision from a manager.
People were supported to eat and drink a healthy range of foods. Support was provided to ensure that their health needs were met and staff at the home liaised regularly with other health and social care professionals.
The home was meeting the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (2005). People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice. People were offered choices about what they wanted to do. Staff members demonstrated that they understood the importance of enabling people to make their own decisions.
Monthly quality monitoring audits and reviews had taken place and people and relatives had been asked for their feedback about the support provided at the home. A complaints procedure was in place and a family member told us that they knew how to use this.