Archived: Principle Support - Cardwell Avenue

Principle Support – Cardwell Avenue is a residential care home, which provides respite care to younger adults with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. The service can support up to four people.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin

Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

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

People received safe and caring support at the service. People received their medicines when they needed them, and there were systems in place to ensure people were protected against the risk of abuse. There was a friendly atmosphere at Principle Support – Cardwell Avenue, and we saw people looked well cared for.

Staff were recruited safely and there were enough of them to keep people safe and to meet their care needs. Staff were receiving appropriate training which was relevant to their role and people's needs. Staff were supported by the management team and were receiving formal supervisions where they could discuss their on-going development needs.

People’s needs were assessed, and care was planned and delivered in a person-centred way, in line with legislation and guidance. Staff knew people and their needs well, and we saw caring interventions and conversations throughout our inspection. People said they enjoyed their meals and their dietary needs and preferences were met. A range of meaningful activities were on offer to keep people occupied, according to their individual interests. Complaints and concerns were well managed, and the manager took prompt action to address any minor issues we raised during the inspection.

The management team conducted audits and checks to further ensure the quality and safety of services provided to people. The operation of the quality assurance processes had improved and actions arising from audits were being recorded and progressed. People, their relatives and staff were able to share their ideas and views about the service and support provided. Information and comments received were reviewed to explore any themes or patterns so improvements could be made.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 26 May 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.

Cardwell Avenue provides respite care to adults with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorders. It is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to four people. Cardwell Avenue is located in a residential area of Sheffield with good access to transport links and local facilities. There were two people staying at the service at the time of this inspection.

There was a registered manager employed 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.

The registered manager had a good oversight of the service and was experienced in their role.

Medicines were stored safely and securely, and procedures were in place to ensure people received their medicines as prescribed.

There were enough staff available to ensure people’s needs were met. The registered provider had robust recruitment procedures to make sure staff had the required skills and were of suitable character and background.

Staff understood what it meant to protect people from abuse. They told us they were confident any concerns they raised would be taken seriously by management.

The care records we looked at included risk assessments, which identified any risks, associated with people’s care and had been devised to help minimise and monitor the risks while promoting the person’s independence as far as possible.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were encouraged to make decisions about their meals, and were supported to go shopping and be involved in menu planning.

People were cared for by an enthusiastic and caring staff group. Staff were supported through training, regular supervisions and team meetings to help them carry out their roles effectively. There was an open and accessible management team.

People received personalised care. Care records reflected people’s current needs and preferences.

There was a clear complaints policy and procedure in place. People’s comments and complaints were taken seriously, investigated, and responded to.

The service had up to date policies and procedures which reflected current legislation and good practice guidance.

Staff told us the managers were approachable and responsive to any concerns they had.

There was evidence the registered manager used quality monitoring systems to ensure safe practice and identify any improvements required. However, some aspects of the quality monitoring system had not taken place since January 2017.