The inspection took place on 13 September 2018 and was unannounced. The last comprehensive inspection took place in April 2016 when the provider was rated Good. You can read the report from our last inspections, by selecting the 'all reports' link for ‘Aspire in the Community – 13 Station Road’ on our website at www.cqc.org.uk. At this inspection we found the service had remained Good.

Aspire in the Community – 13 Station Road is a, ‘care home.’ People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Aspire in the Community – 13 Station Road is registered to provide care for up to seven younger adults who are living with a learning disability. The accommodation is provided in a five-bedroomed house and a two-bedroom bungalow on the same site.

The registered provider was working within 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 using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

At the time of our inspection 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.

The registered provider had systems in place to ensure people were protected from the risk of abuse. Staff were knowledgeable about what action they would take if they suspected abuse.

Risks associated with people’s care were identified and actions taken helped to minimise the risk occurring without restricting people’s freedom.

We spent time observing staff interacting with people who used the service and found there were enough staff available to ensure people were supported to meet their needs and engage in social activities and interests.

The registered provider had systems in place to ensure people received their medicines in a safe way. However, one store room required a record of daily temperatures to ensure the medicines were stored at the recommended temperature.

Staff received training and support to ensure they carried out their roles and responsibilities in an effective way. People were supported to maintain a healthy, balanced diet which met their needs and considered their preferences.

People had access to healthcare professionals to ensure they lived healthy lives and had access to ongoing healthcare support.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

We observed staff interacting with people who used the service. We found they were kind and caring in nature and shared lots of appropriate and friendly banter and laughter.

People received person-centred care which met their needs. The registered provider had a complaints procedure, but there had been no recent concerns raised.

There was a system in place to audit the service and to ensure standards were being maintained. People were asked to comment about the service via a quality questionnaire. However, feedback was not readily available.

Further information is in the detailed findings below

Aspire in the Community – 13 Station Road is a residential care home in Lundwood near Barnsley. The home is registered to provide care for up to seven adults and specialises in supporting people with a learning disability and/or mental health needs. Accommodation is provided across a spacious five bedroom house and a separate two bedroom bungalow on the same site. All bedrooms are en-suite and both the main house and bungalow have a communal bathroom, living room, kitchen, dining room and utility room. The main house also had office space and facilities for staff.

The service was last inspected on 4 October 2013 at which time it was compliant with all the regulations we assessed. We inspected this service on 4 March 2016. The inspection was unannounced. There were four people using the service at the time of our inspection.

The registered provider is required to have a registered manager in post and on the day of the inspection there was a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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.

During the inspection we found that staff completed an induction and had on-going training to equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to carry out their roles effectively. Staff had training to enable them to keep people safe and effectively manage risks. People’s needs were assessed and appropriate, proportionate risk assessments put in place to keep people safe. Staff showed a good understanding of the types of abuse they might see and what action they should take to raise concerns.

Appropriate checks were completed to ensure only people considered suitable to work with vulnerable adults had been employed and there were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs. There were systems in place to manage and administer medication safely.

Staff understood the needs of the people they were supporting and there were systems in place to share information about people’s changing needs.

Conversations with staff and our observations showed staff to be caring, person centred and knowledgeable about the needs of people using the service.

People using the service had choice and control over what and when they ate and people were supported to eat and drink enough and maintain a balanced and nutritious diet.

People were supported to engage in meaningful activities and access the wider community. The home encouraged people to maintain contact with family and friends. People had choice and control over how they spent their time.

There was a system in place to ensure people could raise concerns or make complaints if necessary.

People told us they felt the service was well-led and there were systems in place to monitor the quality of care and support provided.

People were asked for their consent before care or support was provided and staff acted in accordance with people’s wishes.

People told us the care they received met their needs. One person using the service said, “Staff here are very good and help me. This helps me with my health. I like my music and have lots of different CD’s I can listen to when I like. Staff listen to me. I visit my family.”

People were given their medicines when they needed them and supported to manage their own medicines where they were able.

The design and layout of the home was suitable for the people that lived there. The environment was clean and people were protected from the risk of infection. One person said, “Staff help me to clean my bathroom and bedroom after I have received my medication.”

Safe recruitment practices were being followed and sufficient numbers of staff were on duty to keep people safe and meet their health and welfare needs. Family members said, “what we like is there’s a mixture of different ages and gender and [our family member] is familiar with them and their different personalities.”

Comments and complaints people made were responded to appropriately. One person said, “If I wasn’t happy I’d scream and shout and tell them I don’t want to live here any more. I’d tell my parents.”

Staff and other records associated with the management of the service were kept and records detailing people’s health and social care needs were in place and stored securely.

We spoke with three people who used the service. They said they were happy with the care and support provided. People told us that staff helped them to write their care plans. They said that they made choices about every aspect of their lives. They told us that staff respected their rights, their privacy and their dignity. All three people we spoke with said they were becoming much more independent with the support of the staff in the home. One person said, “The staff have really helped me.”

People told us they were supported with their hobbies and interests and were involved in lots of activities. People told us that they felt safe in the home. They said they were asked what they thought of the service by the managers. They also told us that they had regular meetings and they were listened to.