We carried out a review of the data available to us about Alderton House on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Alderton House, you can give feedback on this service.
About the service
Alderton House is a residential care home providing personal care to up to nine people. The service provides support and personal care to autistic people and people with a learning disability living in one adapted house. At the time of our inspection there were eight people using the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Right Support
People were supported to have 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. Staff focused on people’s strengths and promoted what they could do, so people had a fulfilling and meaningful everyday life. People were supported by staff to pursue their interests. Staff supported people to achieve their aspirations and goals. They fully understood and responded to their individual needs. People had a choice about their living environment and were able to personalise their rooms.
Staff communicated with people in ways that met their needs. Staff supported people with their medicines in a way that promoted their independence and achieved the best possible health outcome. Staff supported people to play an active role in maintaining their own health and wellbeing.
Right Care
Staff promoted equality and diversity in their support for people. People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people’s privacy and dignity. They y understood and responded to their individual needs. Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it.
The service had enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. People who had individual ways of communicating, using body language, sounds, Makaton (a form of sign language), pictures and symbols could interact comfortably with staff and others involved in their care and support because staff had the necessary skills to understand them.
People’s care and support plans reflected their range of needs and this promoted their wellbeing and enjoyment of life.
Right Culture
People led inclusive and empowered lives because of the ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the management and staff. Staff knew and understood people well and were responsive, supporting their aspirations to live a quality life of their choosing. Staff turnover was low, which supported people to receive consistent care from staff who completely understood the support people needed down to the smallest details. Staff placed people’s wishes, needs and rights at the heart of everything they did.
People and those important to them, including advocates, were involved in planning their care. Staff evaluated the quality of support provided to people, involving the person, their families and other professionals as appropriate. People’s quality of life was enhanced by the service’s culture of improvement and inclusivity.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 21 September 2020 and this is the first ratings inspection.
Why we inspected
We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support, right care, right culture.
We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home 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.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.
We found the following examples of good practice.
On arrival at the home visitors had their temperature taken, completed a health questionnaire and declaration. They were required to wash their hands and were given personal protective equipment (PPE) to put on. They were also asked to complete a test for COVID-19.
The home had an ample supply of PPE. All staff had received training in the correct use of PPE, and how to take it off and put it on safely. Staff had worked flexibly to change shifts and work extra hours so that there was no need to use agency staff.
People were supported to have regular contact with their families and friends via video calling. They were supported to take part in activities that they enjoyed with staff. This included choosing items that they would like the staff to purchase for them to reduce the risk of going out to the shops.
Testing was carried out for both people living in the home and staff on a regular basis. If anyone had symptoms of COVID-19 they were tested immediately and isolated until the results were received.
Cleaning of the home, including frequently touched surfaces, had increased to reduce the risk of transmission of infection. There were ample supplies of cleaning equipment. Staff had been made aware of the correct cleaning fluids to use to prevent the spread of infection.