Alderwood LLA Ltd Cransley provides accommodation and personal care for up to six people with a learning disability and autistic spectrum disorder. It is situated in a rural part of Northampton, close to a local village with amenities. On the day of our inspection there were six people living in the service.

The inspection took place on 15 March 2017.

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's experiences of care were overwhelmingly positive. They told us that they were consistently looked after by staff that were exceptionally caring, understanding and compassionate. People felt like they mattered, they told us that staff were patient, and demonstrated empathy in how they spoke with them. The service had received numerous compliments for their caring ethos, which meant that people felt part of an extended caring family. Staff supported people and their relatives to fully engage in discussions about their care and support. They worked proactively to help people to make choices and decisions about their care and lifestyle, to be as independent as possible, find work and learn new skills. Staff knew each person as an individual and what mattered to them.

Privacy and dignity was respected by staff with whom positive relationships had been formed and who promoted individuality. Staff were committed to taking action, to uphold the ten good practice steps of dignity in care to demonstrate compassion and respect for people. Information was produced in easy read format to enable people to participate fully in their care. Staff intuitively explored alternative communication methods for those people who were non-verbal to enable them to be involved in their own care planning.

People's needs were comprehensively assessed and intervention and treatment plans gave clear guidance on how people were to be supported. Care was personalised so that each person's support reflected their preferences. We saw that people were at the centre of their care and found clear evidence that their care and support was planned with them and not for them. People were supported to attend a range of educational, occupational and leisure activities as well as being able to develop their own independent living skills. The service was flexible and adapted to people's changing needs and desires, enabling positive outcomes for all concerned. Each person was treated as an individual and as a result their care was tailored to meet their exact needs.

People, relatives and staff were very positive about the leadership of the service and about the support they were able to provide for people with complex healthcare needs. Staff demonstrated a passion and commitment to providing excellent care that supported people to be independent. People told us the service engaged consistently and meaningfully with families. Relatives reported feeling involved and being part of an extended family. They told us that the service was responsive, open and transparent and they felt actively involved in all aspects of their family members care. We found the service had a positive culture that was person centred, inclusive and empowering.

The service was exceptionally well led by a dedicated registered manager, who was very well supported by a forward thinking and self-motivated management team. The culture and ethos within the service was transparent and empowering; staff told us that they were hugely proud to work for the service and wanted it to be the very best it could be.

Best practice guidelines were followed and the service used innovative approaches in its efforts to support people. The whole staff team was inspired to do their best and wer