Archived: Avalon West Yorkshire Services

Updated 17 March 2020

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 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

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. In addition, this service provides care and support to people living in one ‘supported living’ setting made up of twelve flats. 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.

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 it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection. Inspection activity started on 7 February and ended on 17 February 2020We visited the office location on 7 February 2020.

What we did before the inspection

Prior to the inspection we reviewed all the information we had about the service including statutory notifications and other intelligence. We also contacted the local authority contracts department, safeguarding, the Clinical Commissioning Group, and Healthwatch to assist us in planning the inspection. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. 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

We spoke with four people who used the service and one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with eight members of staff including the provider, registered manager, and six support workers. This included telephone and face to face interviews.

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

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 17 March 2020

About the service

Avalon West Yorkshire Services is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. In addition, this service provides care and support to people living in one ‘supported living’ setting made up of twelve flats. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided. The service supports 52 people in total with 16 requiring support with personal care.

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.

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

People and relatives were happy with the care provided. They were involved in planning and making decisions about their care. Risks were assessed and managed. People’s nutritional and healthcare needs were met.

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. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

People received support from regular care staff who knew them well. Support plans showed the support people needed on each call. People were treated with respect and their privacy and dignity was maintained.

Staff were recruited safely and received the induction, training and support they needed to fulfil their role. Staff were very positive about the training they received and that this was classroom based. Safe systems were in place to manage any allegations of abuse and complaints.

There was a visible person-centred culture at the service and it was clear from our discussions with staff that they enjoyed caring for the people they supported.

Quality assurance system were in place to monitor the service provided to people and areas for improvement were identified and actioned. The service had developed strategic aims to ensure the health and well-being of people using the service was at the heart of the service delivery.

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 11 July 2017)

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.