This inspection took place on 30 August 2018 and was our first inspection of this service. The inspection was announced.

95 Ashley Avenue 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.

95 Ashley Avenue is registered to accommodate up to five people in a two-storey house, although the service had been set up to accommodate two people at the present time. At the time of our inspection one person was living at the service. People were not able to communicate their feedback and experiences verbally of living at the service.

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. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

The service had a registered manager in post. 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 were safeguarded from situations in which they may experience abuse including financial mistreatment. People had been helped to avoid preventable accidents while their freedom was respected. Medicines were managed safely and background checks had been completed before new care staff had been appointed. Suitable arrangements were in place to prevent and control infection. Accidents and incidents were reviewed and analysed by managers to reduce the chance of recurrence.

Care was delivered in a way that promoted positive outcomes for people and staff had the knowledge and skills they needed to provide support in line with legislation and guidance. This included respecting people’s citizenship rights under the Equality Act 2010. People were supported to eat and drink enough to have a balanced diet to promote their good health. Suitable steps had been taken to ensure that people received coordinated care when they used or moved between different services. People had been supported to access any healthcare services they needed. The accommodation was designed, adapted and decorated to meet people’s needs and expectations.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives. In addition, the registered persons had taken the necessary steps to ensure that people only received lawful care that was the least restrictive possible.

People were treated with kindness and they had been given emotional support when needed. They had also been helped to express their views and be actively involved in making decisions about their care as far as possible. This included them having access to lay advocates if necessary. The service had not supported anyone at the end of their life. Confidential information was kept private.

People received person-centred care that promoted their independence. This included them having access to information that was presented to them in an accessible way. People were given opportunities to pursue their hobbies and interests. The registered manager and care staff recognised the importance of promoting equality and diversity. Suitable arrangements were in place to resolve complaints in order to improve the quality of care.

The registered manager had promoted a person-centred culture in the service and had made the arrangements necessary to ensure that regulatory requirements were met. People who lived in the service and members of staff were actively engaged in developing the service. There were systems and procedures to enable the service to learn, improve and assur