26 St Marks Road is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. St Marks Road is registered to accommodate eight people; at the time of our inspection there were eight people living in the home.

At the last inspection in October 2015 this service was rated good. At this inspection we found the service remained good.

The service had a registered manager. 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.

People received care from staff that knew them and were kind, compassionate and respectful. There was sufficient staff to provide the care and support to people that they required.

People’s needs were assessed prior to coming to the home and detailed person-centred care plans were in place and were kept under review. Risks to people had been identified and measures put in place to mitigate any risk.

There were appropriate recruitment processes in place and people felt safe in the home. Staff understood their responsibilities to keep people safe from any risk or harm and knew how to respond if they had any concerns.

Staff were supported through regular supervisions and undertook training which helped them to understand the needs of the people they were supporting. People and where appropriate their relatives were involved in decisions about the way in which their care and support was provided.

Staff understood the need to undertake specific assessments where people lacked capacity to consent to their care and / or their day to day routines. People’s health care and nutritional needs were carefully considered and relevant health care professionals were appropriately involved in people’s care.

People were cared for by staff who were respectful of their dignity and who demonstrated an understanding of each person’s needs. Relatives spoke positively about the care their relative received and felt that they could approach management and staff to discuss any issues or concerns they had.

There were comprehensive systems in place to monitor the quality and standard of the home. Regular audits were undertaken and any shortfalls addressed.

The registered manager was approachable and people felt confident that any issues or concerns raised would be addressed and appropriate action taken.

The service strived to remain up to date with legislation and best practice and worked with outside agencies to continuously look at ways to improve the experience for people.

This inspection took place on the 4 September 2015 and was unannounced.

26 St Marks Road is a residential care home for eight people with a range of needs including learning and physical disabilities, autism, acquired brain injuries, and associated complex healthcare needs. It is situated in Chaddesden close to Derby city centre. The home has eight ground floor bedrooms, all with en-suite facilities and ceiling hoists. There is a self-contained flat for people who are preparing for transition into supported living, a sensory room, hydro bath, shower room with a shower trolley, a large lounge, a kitchen, and a dining room. There is a large garden to the rear of the home. All areas of the home and garden are wheelchair-accessible.

At the time of this inspection there were seven people using the service.

The service had a registered manager. This 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.

Relatives told us they thought their family members were safe in the home and people using the service appeared relaxed and comfortable. Staff were trained in safeguarding and knew what to do if they were concerned about the welfare of any of the people they were supporting.

There were enough staff on duty to keep people safe and meet their needs. Staff had time to interact and socialise with people as well as providing practical support. Medicines were safely stored and administered in the way people wanted them.

The food served appeared wholesome and well-presented. People were offered a variety of dishes depending on their likes and dislikes. They were encouraged to eat unassisted where possible and to choose which food items they wanted.

People were assisted to access health care services and maintain good health. Staff responded promptly if a person appeared unwell or there were changes in their behaviours indicating they might be unwell. Staff had a good awareness of the complex healthcare needs of the people using the service.

The atmosphere in the home was lively and the staff and the people using the service got on well with each other. People using the service were encouraged to express their views and make decisions about all aspects of their lives. Staff used the service’s minibus to take people to visit their relatives and bring relatives to the home for visits if that was preferable.

Relatives told us staff treated the people using the service as unique individuals and were responsive to their needs. Staff provided a range of one to one and group activities for the people using the service. On the day we inspected two people went out with staff to a local park in the morning. In the afternoon five people played board games with staff.

The culture of the home was one of openness and inclusion. Relatives told us the registered manager and staff welcomed feedback on the service provided. The staff we spoke with said the home was a pleasant, happy place to work and the registered manager was supportive of both themselves and the people using the service.

The registered manager and operations manager carried out quarterly audits of all aspects of the service to help ensure standards were being met. These audits had led to a number of improvements to the service.