CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Avalon
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough suitable staff, personalised risk assessments, safe medicines systems and a clean environment. They also found that inventories for residents' personal belongings had not been put in place, although immediate action was taken.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs and choices were assessed and reviewed. Staff had relevant training, including in autism, epilepsy and positive behaviour support, and worked with health and social care professionals.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were calm, considerate and respectful. They understood people's non-verbal communication, supported choice and promoted privacy, dignity, independence and relationships.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were personalised and regularly updated. People were supported with communication, hobbies, community activities, holidays and personal goals.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The manager and staff showed commitment to person-centred care and worked well as a team. However, provider quality and safety monitoring visits were not formally recorded in line with the home's policy.
What inspectors found, May 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, personalised care, with a recommendation to improve recorded quality monitoring.
This was an unannounced inspection on 30 April 2019. One inspector reviewed care records, medicines records, staff recruitment and training, accidents, incidents and quality checks. They also observed staff and residents, spoke with four staff members and two relatives by telephone, and reviewed information from other sources.
The home supported four young people with learning disabilities and/or autism. Inspectors found people were safe, treated with dignity, and supported by staff who understood their communication needs, choices and care plans. Medicines, staffing, risk management, activities and links with health professionals were all found to be good.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The provider visited regularly, but these visits were not formally recorded as required by its own policy. CQC recommended that this recording should be improved.
Personalised care
Care plans reflected people's physical, psychological, social and emotional needs. Staff understood individual preferences and communication methods.
“People continued to receive responsive care, which was personalised according to their assessed needs, and preferences.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors saw calm and considerate interactions. Staff promoted dignity, privacy, independence and choice.
“People were treated with dignity, respect and were relaxed in the presence of staff.” from the report
Activities and community life
People were supported to take part in activities suited to their interests and needs, including community outings and holidays.
“There was a varied range of social activities on offer according to individual needs and choice.” from the report
Safe medicines and staffing
Inspectors found enough suitable staff and systems for ordering, storing and giving medicines safely.
“People's medicines were stored, ordered and managed safely.” from the report
Provider monitoring was not recorded
needs fixingThe provider visited regularly but did not formally record monthly quality and safety monitoring visits as required by its own policy. CQC recommended that this should be put right.
“We recommend the provider ensure quality and safety monitoring visits are formally recorded in line with their policy.” from the report
Belongings inventories were missing
minorThere was no inventory showing which personal belongings belonged to residents and which belonged to the home. The manager took immediate action after inspectors raised this.
“Inventories to record people's personal belongings had not been put in place.” from the report
- 01How do you now formally record provider quality and safety monitoring visits, and when was the most recent recorded visit?
- 02How do you record and check which belongings belong to each resident?
- 03How are each resident's communication needs, choices and changing care needs reflected in their current care plan?
- 04What activities, community trips and holidays are currently available for the person I am considering placing here?
- 05How do you support residents to access specialist health services and attend appointments?
This was an unannounced inspection that looked at the premises and care provided and assessed all five CQC questions; the previous inspection in 2016 was also rated Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 May 2019 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, October 2016
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, while a manager’s registration application was still being processed.
This was an unannounced inspection on 5 October 2016, followed by calls to relatives on 11 October. The inspector spoke with people living at the home, staff, the manager, a relative and the provider’s managers. They observed care and checked care records, risk assessments, medicines, staff files and quality checks.
Inspectors found that all five areas were Good: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. They found enough trained staff, safe medicines management, regular risk reviews and suitable recruitment checks. People had choices about food and activities, and staff treated them with kindness, respect and dignity.
The home had improved since the August 2015 inspection. The earlier concerns about recruitment and quality checks had been addressed. There was a manager in place, but they were not yet registered with the CQC because their application was still being processed.
Safe medicines
Inspectors found that medicines were given as prescribed. Storage, records, stock checks and temperature checks were all described as robust.
“People's medicines were administered safely and as it had been prescribed.” from the report
Skilled staffing
The report says there were enough qualified staff and that recruitment checks had been completed. Staff received induction, training and regular support.
“There were enough skilled, qualified staff to provide for people's needs” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people’s communication methods, histories, likes and interests. Inspectors saw friendly interactions and support for dignity and independence.
“We observed that staff knew the people well and people knew the staff who supported them.” from the report
Individual support and activities
Support plans gave clear guidance for each person. People were supported with hobbies, outings, daily living skills and activities that suited their needs.
“Each support plan was individualised to reflect people's needs and included clear instructions for staff” from the report
Quality checks
The manager audited several parts of the service and created action plans when improvements were needed. These were reported to the provider’s governance committee.
“There was an effective quality assurance system in place.” from the report
Manager not yet registered
minorThere was a manager in place, but the home did not have a registered manager when inspectors visited. The application was still being processed, so families may wish to check its progress.
“The home did not have a registered manager in post at the time of our inspection, although the manager's application to become registered was being processed.” from the report
- 01Has the manager’s application to become registered now been completed?
- 02How will staffing levels be maintained if someone is in hospital or needs one-to-one support?
- 03How are risk assessments updated when a person’s behaviour, health or activities change?
- 04What training have staff completed in Makaton, eating disorders and other specialist support needs?
- 05How are activities reviewed to make sure they continue to suit each person’s interests and mood?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, with a visit on 5 October and telephone calls to a relative on 11 October. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 October 2016 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Avalon
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- May 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2016Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 25 July 2012.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
35 live-in carers within about an hour of Essex
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 25 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Not only was she professional, polite and efficient but she bought a lovely smile and laughter to my parents home.”
“She brought fun and stimulation into mums life.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.