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Inspection on 09/10/09 for 122 Carol Avenue

Also see our care home review for 122 Carol Avenue for more information

This inspection was carried out on 9th October 2009.

It is an annual review prepared by CQC after examining previous reports and information from the provider. At the time of this report, CQC judged the service to be Good.

The inspector made no statutory requirements on the home as a result of this inspection and there were no outstanding actions from the previous inspection report.

What follows are excerpts from this inspection report. For more information read the full report on the next tab.

Annual service review Name of Service: 122 Carol Avenue The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: two star good service A quality rating is our assessment of how well a care home, agency or scheme is meeting the needs of the people who use it. We give a quality rating following a full review of the service. We call this review a ‘key’ inspection We do an annual service review when there has been no key inspection of the service in the last 12 months. It does not involve a visit to the service but is a summary of new information given to us, or collected by us, since the last key inspection or annual service review.   Has this annual service review changed our opinion of the service?   No You should read the last key inspection report for this service to get a full picture of how well outcomes for the people using the service are being met. The date by which we will do a key inspection: Name of inspector: Sally Seel Date of this annual service review: 0 9 1 0 2 0 0 9 Annual Service Review Page 1 of 8 Information about the service Address of service: 122 Carol Avenue Bromsgrove Worcestershire B61 8RH 01527872692 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address:   www.dimensions-uk.org Dimensions (UK) Ltd Name of registered provider(s): Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : learning disability Conditions of registration: Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 4 0 The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 4 The registered person may provide the following category of service only: Care Home Only (Code PC) To service users of the following gender: Either Whose primary care needs on admission to the home are within the following categories: Learning disability (LD) 4 Have there been any changes in the ownership, management or the No service’s registration details in the last 12 months? If yes, what have they been: Date of last key inspection: Date of last annual service review (if applicable): Brief description of the service 122 Carol Avenue is a traditional detached house in a residential setting providing a home for four people who have learning disabilities. The home includes a ground floor bedroom and bathroom facilities. The bedrooms of people who live at the home are individually decorated and furnished with a lounge, dining room and kitchen shared by the household. There is easy access to public transport and the town centre. The house has its own vehicle for people to use. The home aims to provide a homely environment promoting independence and dignity. Annual Service Review Page 2 of 8 Each person receives care and support to live as ordinary a life as possible in the community. This involves teaching skills and creating opportunities on behalf of each person. All individuals are encouraged to participate in the running of the home and share in the general household activities within their capabilities recognising and promoting the independence of each person. Annual Service Review Page 3 of 8 Service update since the last key inspection or annual service review: What did we do for this annual service review? We looked at all the information that we have received, or asked for, since the last key inspection. This included: The annual quality assurance assessment (AQAA) that was sent to us by the service. The AQAA is a self-assessment that focuses on how well outcomes are being met for people using the service. It also gave us some numerical information about the service. Surveys returned to us by relatives and from other people with an interest in the service. Information we have about how the service has managed any complaints. What the service has told us about things that have happened in the service; these are called notifications and are a legal requirement. The previous key inspection and the results of any other visits that we have made to the service in the last 12 months. Relevant information from other organisations. What other people have told us about the service. What has this told us about the service? The assistant manager of Carol Avenue sent us their annual quality assurance assessment (AQAA). It gave us some information together with real practice examples about the services offered. The AQAA told us that the services offered to people who live at Carol Avenue is striving to make sure the care and support provided is firmly based upon each persons own likes and dislikes in how they wish to live their lives. This is generally known as taking a person centred approach and examples that have been given are: - communication aids using pictures and symbols help individuals to state their wishes and or concern - each person has a key worker who has a close and understanding relationship with the person which helps with continuity of care and support - meetings are held each Sunday where individuals plan their own meals - people living in the home take holidays that suit them - encouragement in respct of individuals making friendships outside their circle of support. The AQAA also reflects what the home could do better and includes details of the Annual Service Review Page 4 of 8 improvements they have made in the last twelve months and their ongoing plans for the future. For example, at the last Key Inspection it was reported that equality and diversity training should be provided for all staff. In the AQAA it confirms, We support people to access community venues of their choice, staff are aware that when they are supporting people with a disability, that they ensure they are not excluded or discriminated against from any activity and they would advocate on their behalf if this were to arise. The acting manager has recognised that practices are in place but as also confirmed that further training in this area would be welcomed. In the meantime staff take a proactive approach within their supervisions sessions as we are told discussions about equality and diversity are looked at so that their practices will benefit each person living at Carol Road. There are also folders in the home which staff can access to read about diversity issues that affect individuals quality of lives together with information on the intranet for staff to look at. Comments from relatives told us: The staff make sure she has a good life, this is of great comfort to me. The staff make her life very happy and make us very welcome when we visit as a family. It is confirmed in the AQAA that people who live in the home are encouraged and supported to lead their lives as they wish. To enable people to do this the AQAA states, To have a more flexible rota to further meet the needs of the people we support. This shows that people who live in this home are being supported in ways that suit them and they are encouraged to lead active lives that hold meaniing to each person. Examples are provided in the AQAA of the activities individuals are supported to experience: - Activities include bowling, attending social evenings, church, foot massage, hand and nail care, visiting the hairdressers, college courses, day trips to places of interest to the people we support, holidays and short breaks, cafe and garden centre visits, music, swimming, crafts, shopping, boat trips and safari park. - Two people have been on a coach holiday to Butlins, two are going to a caravan in Wales and two will be going on a Turkey and Tinsel holiday in November. - Each person is supported to clean their own room and keep it tidy, if they are not fully able to clean their own room, they are supported to do as much for themselves as possible. - Everyone is encouraged to be involved in meal planning and preparation and preparing their lunch boxes to take to day service placements. One relative said, I have always found X (persons name) to be happy, well dressed and always well groomed, shiny hair etc. The AQAA tells us that each person has an, health action plan which is used regularly and updated by all those involved in health care. There are also clear examples given where the manager and staff consult various professionals. This practice makes sure any health difficulties people face are focused upon by the appropriate person whether this be a doctor of medicine, consultant who is a specialist in a particular medical condition, opticians, dentists, foot care specialists, speech and language therapists, Annual Service Review Page 5 of 8 psychiatrists, community nurses, all referred to in the AQAA. This shows that the acting manager is determined to promote peoples health and wellbeing. The AQAA told us, People who live at Carol Aveenue enjoy a comfortable and homely environment. The home is kept clean and is well maintained, there is a cleaning schedule to insure that the environment is kept hiygeinicly clean. The acting manager as also confirmed that some improvements have been made to the home in the last twelve months. These include, New windows, front and back door, airing cupboard has been fitted with smoke detector, linked into fire detection system. New fencing in back garden. A comment received from one relative informed us, The photographs in the sitting room is a lovely homely touch and another said that the staff, maintain high standards in house. The AQAA gave us further information about how the home is going to be improved in the next twelve months which include, Hall stairs and landing to be decorated, ramp at rear entrance. Garden path to be improved. Down stair bathroom and lobby to be decorated. Also utility area. This reflects the ethos in wanting to make certain that the environment withiin the home is well maintained and there is a proactive approach to planning further improvements where needed to make sure it meets the needs of people living at Carol Avenue. Recruitment continues to be robust and all staff are checked to ensure that they are suitably qualified and safe to work with vulnerable people who live in the home. The AQAA states that the home are striving to improve the knowledge of staff who work at the home. This is reflected in the fact that four staff members out of eight who work at the home have achieved Level Two in the National Vocational Qualification, (NVQ). This means that people living in the home can be reassured that they are supported and assisted by knowledgeable and skilled staff who have completed core training to meet their needs. One survey received told us: Carol Avenue is a very welcoming and friendly home for those who live there and those that visit. This is down to those staff that work there. They are knowledgeable and experienced staff. There is a robust complaints process, and the acting manager tells us that they take all concerns and complaints seriously. There have been no complaints made to the service or us in the last 12 months. The AQAA informs us that information in relation to the organisations complaints procedure is in formats that provide understanding to people who live in this home. There are safeguarding policies in place which ensure that management and staff are fully aware of their responsibilities in relation to the protection of vulnerable people. The AQAA informs us that staff have received training in the Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA). The acting manager has pointed out that they want more POVA training. This shows that this training is taken very seriously by the acting manager so that people are supported and assisted by staff that can recognise abuse, know how to keep people safe and who to report any form of abuse. There is information in the AQAA confirms that best interest meetings take place to ensure peoples rights are not compromised and any unnecessary restrictions are not put in place. This shows us that staff have an awareness of working with the guiding principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) which is important in this home as people living there would need support to Annual Service Review Page 6 of 8 communicate their choices and take part in making decisions about their lives. The home continues to let us know about the things that have happened since our last key inspection and they have shown that they have managed the issues well. Where necessary we have received notifications of incidents that have happened in the home in the last year together with the appropriate action taken. We looked at all the information we had concerning Carol Drive, and our judgement is that they are still providiing a good service and that they have a clear vision of what further improvements they wish to make. What are we going to do as a result of this annual service review? We are not going to change our inspection plan, and will do a key inspection by 19th August 2010. However we can inspect the service at any time if we have concerns about the quality of the service or the safety of the people using the service. Annual Service Review Page 7 of 8 Reader Information Document Purpose: Author: Audience: Further copies from: Annual service review CQC General Public 0870 240 7535 (national contact centre) Our duty to regulate social care services is set out in the Care Standards Act 2000. The content of which can be found on our website. Helpline: Telephone: 03000 616161 Email: enquiries@cqc.org.uk Web: www.cqc.org.uk We want people to be able to access this information. If you would like a copy of the findings in a different format or language please contact our helpline or go to our website. Copyright © (2009) Care Quality Commission (CQC). This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, free of charge, in any format or medium provided that it is not used for commercial gain. This consent is subject to the material being reproduced accurately and on proviso that it is not used in a derogatory manner or misleading context. The material should be acknowledged as CQC copyright, with the title and date of publication of the document specified. Annual Service Review Page 8 of 8 - Please note that this information is included on www.bestcarehome.co.uk under license from the regulator. Re-publishing this information is in breach of the terms of use of that website. 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