We inspected Ashbridge Lodge Residential Care Home on 31 August 2017. This was an announced inspection. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location was a small care home for adults who are often out during the day and we needed to be sure that someone would be in. At the last inspection on October 2015 the service was rated as Good. We found the service remained Good at this inspection.

Ashbridge Lodge Residential Care Home is a care home providing personal care and support for people with learning disabilities. The home is registered for five people. At the time of the inspection they were providing personal care and support to four people.

There was 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.

The experiences of people who lived at the service were positive. People and their relatives told us they felt the service was safe, staff were kind and the care they received was good. We found staff had a good understanding of their responsibility with regard to safeguarding adults.

Risk assessments were in place which provided guidance on how to support people safely. There was enough staff to meet people’s needs. Medicines were managed in a safe manner. There were sufficient numbers of suitable staff employed by the service. Staff had been recruited safely with appropriate checks on their backgrounds completed.

Staff undertook training and received regular supervision to help support them to provide effective care. Staff we spoke with had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). MCA and DoLS is law protecting people who are unable to make decisions for themselves or whom the state has decided their liberty needs to be deprived in their own best interests. We saw people were able to choose what they ate and drank.

Person centred support plans were in place and people and their relatives were involved in planning the care and support the received.

People’s cultural and religious needs were respected when planning and delivering care. Discussions with staff members showed that they respected people’s sexual orientation so that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people could feel accepted and welcomed in the service.

People had access to a wide variety of activities within the community. The provider had a complaint procedure in place. People and their relatives knew how to make a complaint.

Staff told us the registered manager was approachable and open. The service had various quality assurance and monitoring mechanisms in place. These included surveys, audits and staff and resident meetings.

We inspected Ashbridge Lodge Residential Care Home on 1 October 2015. This was an announced inspection. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location was a small care home for adults who are often out during the day and we needed to be sure that someone would be in.

Ashbridge Lodge Residential Care is a care home providing accommodation and support with personal care for people with learning disabilities. The home is registered for five people. At the time of the inspection they were providing personal care and support to three people.

There was not a registered manager at the service at the time of our inspection. The manager in place at the time of our visit was still in the process of completing registration with the Care Quality Commission. 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.

We have made a recommendation about staff training on the subject of dementia. Staff received regular one to one supervision and undertook regular training. People had access to health care professionals and the home sought to promote people’s health. People were supported to make their own decisions where they had capacity. Where people lacked capacity proper procedures were followed in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Arrangements were in place and people were provided with a choice of healthy food and drink ensuring their nutritional needs were met.

We found people were cared for by sufficient numbers of suitably qualified, skilled and experienced staff. Robust recruitment and selection procedures were in place and appropriate checks had been undertaken before staff began work.

People’s needs were assessed and care and support was planned and delivered in line with their individual care needs. The support plans contained a good level of information setting out exactly how each person should be supported to ensure their needs were met. Care and support was tailored to meet people’s individual needs and staff knew people well. The care plans included risk assessments. Staff had good relationships with the people living at the home and the atmosphere was happy and relaxed.

We observed interactions between staff and people living in the home and staff were kind and respectful to people when supporting them. Staff knew how to respect people’s privacy and dignity. People were supported to attend meetings where they could express their views about the service.

We found that people were supported to access the local community and wider society. People using the service pursued their own activities and interests, with the support of staff when required.

There was a clear management structure in the home. People who lived at the home, relatives and staff felt comfortable about sharing their views and talking to the manager if they had any concerns. The manager demonstrated a good understanding of their role and responsibilities, and staff told us the manager was always supportive. There were systems in place to routinely monitor the safety and quality of the service provided.