Archived: Avalon

Updated 1 March 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 checked 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 comprehensive inspection was undertaken by one inspector on 02 February 2017 and was unannounced.

Before the inspection, we looked at information that we had received about the service. This included information we received from the local authority and any notifications from the provider. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.

People using the service had complex needs that meant we could not obtain their verbal comments on the service. We spent time sitting with people and observing their interactions with and responses to staff. We also spoke with two relatives. During the inspection process, we spoke with the registered manager, the provider’s representative and four staff working in the service. We looked at two people’s care and five people’s medicines records. We looked at recruitment records relating to two staff. We also looked at the provider’s arrangements for supporting staff, managing complaints and monitoring and assessing the quality of the services provided at the home.

Updated 1 March 2017

Avalon is registered to provide accommodation with personal care for eight people who have a learning disability. There were eight people living at the service on the day of our inspection. The premises is single storey and wheelchair accessible.

At the last inspection this service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Staff were knowledgeable about identifying abuse and how to report it to safeguard people. Recruitment procedures were thorough. Risk management plans were in place to support people and their safety. There were also processes in place to manage any risks in relation to the running of the service.

Medicines were safely stored, recorded and administered in line with current guidance to ensure people received their prescribed medicines to meet their needs. People had support to access healthcare professionals and services. People had choices of food and drinks that supported their nutritional or health care needs and their personal preferences.

People were supported by skilled staff who knew them well and were available in sufficient numbers to meet people's needs effectively. People’s dignity and privacy was respected and staff were friendly and caring. People were supported to participate in social activities including community based events.

Staff used their training effectively to support people. The registered manager understood and complied with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the associated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Staff were aware of their role in relation to MCA and DoLS and how to support people so not to place them at risk of being deprived of their liberty. People were supported to have choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the systems in place in the service supported this practice.

Care records included people’s preferences and individual needs so that staff had clear information on how to give people the support that they needed. Relatives confirmed that people received the care they required.

The service was well led; relatives and staff knew the registered manager and found them to be approachable and available in the home. People and their relatives had the opportunity to say how they felt about the home and the service it provided. The provider and registered manager had systems in place to check on the quality and safety of the service provided and to put actions plans in place where needed.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.