The Care Quality Commission
  • Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: The Avenue Care Home

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

83 The Avenue, Haringey, London, N17 6TB (020) 8493 1428

Provided and run by:
Averesidential Care Ltd

All Inspections

15 September 2015

During a routine inspection

We inspected this service on 15 September 2015. The inspection was unannounced. Avenue Care Home is a care home registered for a maximum of four adults who have mental health needs. The service is currently a home for women only.

At the time of our inspection there were two people living at the service. No one was detained under the Mental Health Act or under formal supervision in the community.

The service is located in a terraced house, on two floors with access to a front and back garden.

We previously inspected the service on 7 January 2014 and the service was found to be meeting the regulations.

Avenue Care Home had a registered manager at the service. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Referrals to the service could be made by local authorities. People had to be under the care of the local community mental health team.

During the inspection there was a calm and pleasant atmosphere. People using the service informed us that they were satisfied with the care and services provided. They said that they were treated with dignity and respect and we observed good quality interactions between staff and people using the service.

Staff were fully aware of people’s needs as a result of working with people using the service and information provided by the staff from the community mental health team. Their needs were documented within detailed care plans. Staff responded quickly to people’s change in needs if they were physically or mentally unwell.

Care records were individualised and reflected their choices, likes and dislikes, and arrangements were in place to ensure that these were responded to. Care plans provided detailed information on people’s health needs which were closely monitored. People were supported to maintain good health through regular access to healthcare professionals, such as GPs, the local community mental health team (including mental health professionals and social work staff) and the local general hospital.

Risk assessments had been carried out and these contained guidance for staff on protecting people. Care plans were developed and updated with input from health and social care professionals.

People were promoted to live full and active lives and were supported to access activities in the wider community if they wished. People’s cultural and religious needs were actively facilitated by staff.

People had their medicines managed safely. People received their medicines as prescribed and on time. Staff had been carefully recruited and provided with training to enable them to care effectively for people, although three staff required formal training in medicines management. Storage and management of medicines was well managed with clear processes in place.

Staff felt supported and there was always a manager available on call, but there was no evidence of regular supervision documented. Staff knew how to recognise and report any concerns or allegations of abuse and described what action they would take to protect people against harm. Staff told us they felt confident any incidents or allegations would be fully investigated.

There were enough staff to meet people's needs.

The home had comprehensive arrangements for quality assurance. Regular audits and checks had been carried out by the registered manager.

We found the premises were clean and tidy. The home had an infection control policy and measures were in place for infection control. There was a record of essential inspections and maintenance carried out. There was clear documentation relating to complaints and incidents.

Management of money for people using the service was well managed and organised.

People told us the management was a visible presence within the home. Staff talked positively about their jobs telling us they enjoyed their work and felt valued. The staff we met were caring, kind and compassionate.

The building was not suitable for people with significant mobility problems although this was not an issue for the people who used the service at this point in time as nobody had any mobility problems.

We have made recommendations in relation to staff training and supervision.

7 January 2014

During a routine inspection

We spoke with a person who used this service who told us "I have no problems" and "People respect my choices". They also said "The staff are fine". We also spoke with a relative of a person who used this service. They said "It seems to be quite a capable establishment" as well as "I can't find any faults and I have no concerns". When asked about the quality of management of the service, the relative said "The manager is very nice and always does their best".

We spoke with a professional from the local authority which supported this service. They told us "The service the staff provide to clients is really good". They gave an example of a person who for many years had not been able to act very independently but who had completely changed over the last twelve months and was now able to do much more for herself. The person said "This is due to the close work which staff have done with the person". The professional said they had never observed anything negative about the service and told us that they got regular feedback. They also said "The manager is proactive".

We found that people who used this service were treated with respect and that their wishes and choices were taken into account when planning and delivering care and treatment. We found that people received care and support which was consistent with that which was planned and that people who used the service felt that they were listened to and their views were taken into account when reviewing the care and treatment provided. This was reflected in the way in which people's complaints were handled and the feedback and support the person received after making a complaint.

We found that the service was clean and had effective systems in place to prevent and control infections.

We found that the service had an effective complaints system in place and that this system had been fully explained to people so that they could be confident that any complaint they made would be handled fairly and would be dealt with thoroughly.

24 October 2012

During a routine inspection

We met and spoke with all three people who lived at the home. They were generally positive about the support provided to them. One person said 'I want to stay here,' and another person told us 'The foods good,' and 'I go out as much as I want to.'

People appeared to be well supported within the home. They indicated that they were provided with the care that they needed, were given choices, and had formed good and supportive relationships with staff members. People were supported to engage in activities of their preferences.

People lived in an environment that was well maintained and furnished and decorated appropriately.

Staff received appropriate supervision and there was a training plan in place for the staff team. There was monitoring in place to ensure the quality of records, care and support provided for people living at the home.

3 February 2011

During a routine inspection

We talked to one person living in the home and spent time observing the support and lifestyle that people experience. Overall the feedback was that people are provided with a high standard of support, and have settled quickly within the home. They are given choices and have formed good and supportive relationships with staff.

The home was well maintained, and people's bedrooms had been personalised and were comfortably furnished and decorated.

A wide range of activities have already been made available to people, and these are being further developed as people settle into the home. People have the opportunity to go outside the home when they wish, and are encouraged to maintain their social networks.

A varied diet is provided to people at the home, with people's preferences met as far as possible. People are supported to take their medication at the prescribed times, and are encouraged to adopt healthy living practices.

Staff were seen treating people with respect and sensitivity, and had significant experience working in mental health, with relevant training and supervision to ensure that they work in line with best practice. People were clear about who they could speak to if they had a complaint or felt at risk of harm. However people would benefit from safeguarding training being rolled out to the remainder of the staff team, records maintained of how concerns raised by people are addressed, and quality assurance procedures being further developed within the home.