The inspection of Gordon Avenue took place on the 21 December 2017 and was announced. Gordon Avenue is registered to provide personal care. The provider was given two days notice because the location provides a care at home service where personal care is provided to people within a supported living setting and we wanted to be sure there was someone in the office. At the time of this inspection, the service was providing personal care for five people living in a supported living scheme. People who used the service had autism and learning disabilities. This supported living scheme was located at the same address as the office. The scheme consisted of three separate four bedded flats. The service was registered in April 2016. It is run by Hoffmann Foundation for Autism which is a registered charity.

This service provides care and support to people living in a ‘supported living’ setting, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the “Registering the Right Support” and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. The service worked towards the goal of enabling people with learning disabilities and autism to live as ordinary a life as any citizen.”

The service did not have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run. The previous registered manager resigned in June 2017 and a new manager was in place in July 2017. This new manager had applied for registration with The Care Quality Commission (CQC) in October 2017. However, he informed us that he was moving to another location run by the organisation in January 2018. The head of operations informed us that an interim manager would be managing the home until a new permanent manager was in post.

Some people who used the service did not provide us with feedback regarding the care provided. Two people provided us with some feedback and informed us that they were well treated and had been provided with activities outside their home. We received feedback from two relatives of people who used the service. They stated that the service had experienced difficulties in caring for people, however, the care provided had improved in the past few months. They informed us that people had been treated with respect.

The service had a policy and procedure for the administration of medicines. There were suitable arrangements for the recording, storage, and administration of medicines. People had been given their medicines as prescribed. There were no gaps in the four Medicines Administration Record charts examined (MAR).

People’s care needs and potential risks to them were assessed and care workers were aware of these risks. Personal emergency and evacuation plans were prepared for people. This ensured that care workers were aware of the action to take to ensure the safety of people.

The service had arrangements for safeguarding people. There was a safeguarding adult's policy and care workers were aware of action to take when they suspected abuse had taken place. A number of safeguarding concerns had been reported to us in recent months. The service had co-operated with the local authority safeguarding team and followed up on action plans. This had included closer management support, having more experienced care workers and taking action against care workers implicated in abuse.

The service had experienced difficulties in managing some people

We undertook this announced inspection on 4 October 2016. 4 Gordon Avenue is registered to provide personal care. At the time of this inspection, the service was providing personal care for five people living in a supported living scheme who had autism and learning disabilities. This supported living scheme was located at the same address and consisted of three separate four bedded flats. The service was newly registered in April 2016. It is run by Hoffmann Foundation for Autism which is a registered charity.

The service has a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People who used the service informed us that they were well cared for and care workers treated them well. We were able to speak with four relatives of people who used the service. They informed us that they were satisfied with the care and services provided. They told us that people had been treated with respect and they were safe when cared for by care workers of the service. There was a safeguarding adults policy and suitable arrangements for safeguarding people from abuse.

Care workers were knowledgeable regarding the individual needs of people. They were pleasant and attentive towards people. People’s care needs and potential risks to them were carefully assessed. Care workers had been provided with guidance on how to minimise potential risks to people. They prepared appropriate and up to date care plans which involved people and their representatives. People’s healthcare needs were closely monitored and they had been attended to by healthcare professionals. Care workers worked alongside social and healthcare professionals and when needed, management staff attended meetings held to discuss issues related to the care of people. There were suitable arrangements for ensuring that people received their medicines as prescribed. Checks and audit arrangements were in place and these indicated that people had been given their medication as prescribed.

There were arrangements for encouraging people and their representatives to express their views and make suggestions regarding the care and management of the service. Management staff maintained regular contact with relatives of people. Reviews of care had been carried out with people, their relatives and professionals involved to ensure that people received appropriate care. People were encouraged to be as independent as possible and they were could engage in social and therapeutic activities. Care workers assisted people with their shopping and meal preparation. Care workers encouraged people in healthy eating. People’s weights were monitored monthly.

Care workers had been carefully recruited and provided with a comprehensive induction and training programme to enable them to care effectively for people. They had the necessary support, supervision and appraisals from the registered manager and unit manager. There were enough staff to meet people's needs. Teamwork and communication within the service was good. Care workers were aware of the values and aims of the service and this included working as a team, treating people with respect and dignity and providing an efficient and high quality service to people who used the service.

Audits and checks of the service had been carried out by the registered manager and senior staff of the company. These included checks on care documentation, medicines administration and health and safety checks of premises. Complaints made had been promptly responded to. Social and healthcare professionals indicated that there had been initial problems associated with this newly set up service. However, they indicated that the service had co-operated with them to bring about im