About the service:

148 Hornsey Lane provides accommodation and personal care to a maximum of 12 adults with long-term mental health needs. At the time of the inspection ten adults were living in the care home.

People’s experience of using this service:

People using the service told us they felt safe in the home and staff were kind, caring and respectful. They spoke positively about living in the home and raised no concerns. People’s relatives were also positive about the care provided by staff and said that staff treated people with respect and dignity.

Staff took appropriate action to ensure people were safe from avoidable harm and abuse. Systems were in place, which ensured that people were living in a safe environment and risks to their health and wellbeing were regularly assessed. These related to regular health and safety and fire checks, infection control and management of incidents and accidents.

Staff had received training on how to identify abuse and understood their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding people, including reporting concerns relating to people's safety and well-being. Risks to people had been assessed, updated and regularly reviewed to ensure people were safe and risks to people in relation to treatment or care were minimised.

Systems were in place to ensure that people received their prescribed medicines safely. Medicines were stored and managed well. Staff had received medicines administration training and their competency was assessed to ensure they knew how to administer medicines safely.

On the day of the inspection we observed that staff did not appear to be rushed and were able to complete their tasks. We discussed staffing levels with the registered manager and she explained that there was flexibility in respect of staffing and staffing levels were regularly reviewed depending on people's needs and occupancy levels.

People were supported to live a healthy life. Staff supported people to have a healthy and nutritious diet that was in line with their individual dietary needs and preferences. People had access to healthcare professionals when needed.

People's care and support plans were up to date and personalised. They included details about people’s individual needs and preferences and guidance for staff to follow so people received personalised care and support that met their individual needs and preferences.

Staff received appropriate training to ensure they had the right knowledge and skills to support people in a safe and effective way. The registered manager supported staff by providing them with regular supervision and a yearly appraisal of their performance.

Staff knew people well and had a caring approach to their work. They understood the importance of treating people with dignity, protecting people's privacy and respecting their differences and human rights. During the inspection, we observed staff treated people with respect, kindness and compassion. Positive caring relationships had developed between people who used the service and staff and people appeared at ease in the presence of care support workers and the registered manager.

The home was designed to enable people to spend their time on their own or in the company of others. There were communal areas to socialise with other people using the service and individual rooms to spend time on their own if preferred. The décor was homely and we saw people were comfortable in their environment.

Staff understood their obligations regarding the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff gained people's agreement before providing them with assistance with personal care and other activities.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is required by law to monitor the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) wh