The inspection took place on 24 and 27 April 2017 and the first day was unannounced. This was the first inspection since the service was registered with the Care Quality Commission in March 2016.

Aram House provides accommodation for up to five people with mental health needs. The service offers a residential living environment, with a view to people regaining their independence and then moving onto more independent living after a period of 12 to 18 months. The personal care the service provides is to administer people’s medicines. Each person has their own room with en suite toilet and shower facilities and there is a separate bathroom available. There is a spacious open plan kitchen and living area and a well maintained garden for people to access. At the time of inspection there were four people living at the service and one person visiting for a trial period.

The service is required to have 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. The registered manager is also the provider for the service and has been in post since the service first registered in March 2016.

We identified some shortfalls in medicines management, which the registered manager addressed at the time of inspection and improved the monitoring processes to ensure medicines were managed safely.

Systems were in place to safeguard people from the risk of abuse and staff understood the action to take if they had any concerns.

Risk assessments and action plans were in place for individual risks so these were minimised.

Staff recruitment procedures were being followed to ensure only suitable staff were employed by the service.

The numbers of staff on duty were determined by the support each person required each day and were appropriate to meet these needs.

Staff received training to provide them with the knowledge and skills to care for people effectively.

The people who we spoke with and received feedback from, including people living at the service, a relative and health and social care professionals were happy with the support being provided at the service.

We found the service was meeting the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). People were able to come and go independently from the service and could be accompanied by staff if they so wished.

People were able to make choices with their dietary needs and were encouraged to eat healthily.

People’s healthcare needs were identified and were monitored and met by the GP and other healthcare professionals when required.

Staff understood the individual support people needed and this was provided this in a friendly and caring manner.

Care records were personalised and were reviewed each month to keep them up to date.

People were able to access activities and work outside the service and there were also activities within the service that people could participate in. People’s religious and cultural needs were respected.

There was a complaints procedure in place and people were confident they would raise any concerns they might have.

The registered manager wanted to provide the best service they could to support people to improve and regain their independence. They kept up to date with current good practice and provided good support to the staff and to the people using the service.

Processes were in place with additional systems being introduced to audit and monitor the service effectively.