Latest Inspection
This is the latest available inspection report for this service, carried out on 15th March 2010. 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 Excellent.
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.
For extracts, read the latest CQC inspection for Smock Acre.
Annual service review
Name of Service: Smock Acre The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: three star excellent service 2 6 1 1 2 0 0 8 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: Sandra Crosby Date of this annual service review: 1 0 0 2 2 0 1 0 Annual Service Review Page 1 of 6 Information about the service
Address of service: Hollow Lane Hoath Canterbury Kent CT3 4LF 01227860136 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address:
smockacre@theavenuestrust.co.uk glebe.house@theavenuestrust.co.uk Avenues Support Services Name of registered provider(s): Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : learning disability Conditions of registration: Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 3 0 The maximum number of service users to be accommodated is 3. The registered person may provide the following category/ies of service only: Care home only - (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). 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 Smock Acre is a care home, first registered in 1999 to provide accommodation and personal care to 3 adults with a learning disability, who have additional physical needs. The registered provider is the Avenues Trust Limited, which has been operating since 1993 and is now a major provider of residential support services in South East England. Maintenance of the building is by Kelsey Housing Association. The home is a large, spacious bungalow along a farm road outside the rural village of Hoath,
Annual Service Review Page 2 of 6 2 6 1 1 2 0 0 8 surrounded by fields. It is approximately 8 miles from the city of Canterbury and 6 miles from the seaside town of Herne Bay. There is a half-acre garden at the rear, and a large flat garden at the front. The home is not on any direct bus route, and the farm road does not have footpaths or street lighting. Residents rely on the homes own adapted minibus to access the community. There is a drive on either side of the site with ample parking spaces in each case. The home itself is fully wheelchair accessible. The fees for support from the home are set during the assessment period and are very individual to the needs of the person supported, depending on the level of support required and the staffing numbers provided. The average fee levels start at various levels and currently go up to £2,250.00 per week. Annual Service Review Page 3 of 6 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 or annual service review. 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. 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 together with the results of any other visits that we have made to the service in the last twelve months. What has this told us about the service? The home returned the annual quality assurance assessment (AQAA) documentation. The information contained in the AQAA was clear and informative. It identified areas that have improved in the last year and others where further developments are either planned or would benefit the people using the service. This included evidence that the service seeks the views of the people using the service and other stakeholders. The last key inspection report dated 26 November 2008 was positive. No requirements or recommendations for good practice were made. People were very positive about the service they were receiving, with positive comments also from relatives and other stakeholders. Since the last inspection the Commission has been notified of significant events at the home. The completed AQAA documentation states there has been one adult protection referral and investigation, and one referral to POVA. No formal complaints have been made in the last twelve months. The AQAA indicated a range of areas where improvements have been made in the last year for example menu plans have been updated to reflect choices. The induction process has been updated for new staff. Staff now have Boots MAR training in addition to Avenues training. The people supported by the home are now involved in the recruitment process. New community based activities and holiday destinations and activities have been planned around choice as far as possible. In the case of one of the people supported by the home they are able to undertake swimming four times a week as this is very much their preferred activity. One of the people supported by the home now goes to watch live football matches. Regular day trips to places of interest have taken place for all of the people supported by the home. There is on going maintenance and redecoration. Improvements made in the last twelve months as stated in the AQAA include for example a polytunnel, accessible for wheelchairs is now placed in the garden, providing increased opportunities for the people supported by the home to get involved in gardening. Annual Service Review Page 4 of 6 In relation to equality and diversity the AQAA states there is thorough training throughout the organisation and policies and procedures are in place covering equality and diversity. Cultural Needs Assessments are in place for all the people supported by the home. Equality and Diversity are at the centre of what the home does for the people supported and the staff throughout the organisation. The information provided by the home and other sources confirmed our judgement that the home is still providing an excellent service. The AQAA identified that the workforce work hard to provide a friendly and caring environment for the people who use the service within a person centred framework. They work well with the CQC and have shown us that their service continues to provide good outcomes for the people who use it. What are we going to do as a result of this annual service review? There will be no change to the inspection plan and we will do a key inspection by November 2011. 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 5 of 6 Reader Information
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