Archived: Avalon Botton Services

Updated 10 December 2021

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.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was announced. We gave the service 24 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. The service had a registered manager. This means that when registered they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

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.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. 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. 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. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

During the inspection

We spent time with people who used the service. We spoke with twelve people who used the service, two relatives, the registered manager, deputy manager, and four care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. These included three people’s support plans a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits and procedures.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to corroborate evidence found. We looked at audits, care plans, reports and policies.

Updated 10 December 2021

About the service

Avalon Botton Services, is a shared lives scheme which provides people with long-term placements, short breaks and respite care, within shared lives carers (care workers) own homes. At the time of our inspection 29 people were using the service.

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

We received positive feedback from people, who told us they were happy with the support they received from their care workers. People received person-centred support and care workers knew the people they supported extremely well. Support plans covered all aspects of people’s lives and their preferences to ensure a personalised experience. People were supported to develop and maintain important personal relationships.

People’s health and well-being needs were supported from their care worker who encouraged people to develop, try new things, learn new skills and achieve personal goals. People were empowered to have their say and to exercise their rights. Access to an advocacy service was available and used when needed. Systems were in place for communicating with people, their relatives and care workers to ensure they were fully involved.

Medicines were safely administered and managed accurately. Individualised risk assessments were in place. Care workers were confident to raise concerns to safeguard people. Robust recruitment and selection procedures ensured suitable care workers were matched with people according to their shared interests and personalities.

All essential visitors had to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test and complete NHS Track and Trace information. Care workers completed training in infection prevention and control.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, 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 providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture. People were supported to reach their personal goals through person-centred approaches from leadership and care worker with the right skills and attitudes to achieve this.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 22 May 2019 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

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