Aykroyd Lodge is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to six people with learning disabilities. The home is a detached house situated within gardens and surrounded by fields. Accommodation is provided over two floors in single bedrooms. At the time of the inspection three people were using the service.

At the last inspection on 1 September 2015, the service was rated ‘Good’. At this inspection on 19 December 2017 we found the service remained ‘Good’.

The service was managed by a registered manager who was registered on 22 November 2017. 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 received their medicine as prescribed by healthcare professionals. Medicines were stored securely to ensure they were safe. There were risk assessments which identified risks to people and management plans had been put in place to ensure people’s health and well-being were maintained.

People were protected from the risks of abuse and improper treatment. Staff had received training on safeguarding and they were knowledgeable on the procedure to follow if they had any concerns. There were sufficient staff available to safely meet people’s needs.

People’s relatives told us staff were kind and caring. We observed that staff treated people with respect and promoted their dignity.

People were supported to communicate their views about the choices available in relation to what food and drink they preferred and participation in activities.

People’s nutritional needs were met. People told us they enjoyed the choice of food that was available to them. People had access to food and drinks throughout the day.

Staff were trained on various areas to ensure they had the relevant skills, knowledge and experience to provide good care to the people they looked after. Staff received regular support and supervision to carry out their duties effectively.

The service liaised with various healthcare professionals to meet the needs of people.

People had their individual needs assessed and their care planned in a way that met their needs. Reviews were held with people and their relatives to ensure people’s support reflected their current needs.

People’s relatives had opportunities to share their views and give feedback about the service and these were acted upon. The service was subjected to regular quality checks to ensure the service was of good quality and met people’s needs.

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.

Further information can be found in the detailed findings below.

We carried out an inspection of Aykroyd Lodge on 1 and 2 September 2015. The first day of the inspection was unannounced.

Aykroyd Lodge provides personal care and accommodation for up to six adults. The home specialises in supporting people living with a learning disability. There were four people living at the home at the time of our inspection.

This was the first inspection carried out since Voyage 1 Limited became the registered provider of the service.

The manager had been registered at the home since January 2015. 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 found the service was safe. Staff knew about safeguarding procedures and we saw concerns had been dealt with appropriately.

We noted there were sufficient numbers of staff on duty to support people safely and ensure that people’s needs were met effectively. Staff received appropriate training and were well supported by the management team.

People’s needs were assessed and areas of risk were identified and reviewed to ensure peoples’ safety. Support was offered in accordance with people’s wishes and their privacy was protected. Staff knew people well and understood their physical and personal care needs and treated them with dignity and respect.

The registered manager followed the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and where people lacked the ability to give their consent, made appropriate decisions about whether different aspects of their care were carried out in their best interests. Records showed staff had completed MCA training. We noted appropriate applications had been made to the local authority for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

People’s medicines were securely stored and managed and people were supported to take their prescribed medicines in a timely way.

People were provided with a choice of healthy food and drink ensuring their nutritional needs were met. People’s health needs were monitored which included appropriate referrals to healthcare professionals when required.

Support plans had been developed for each person living in the home, which reflected their specific needs and preferences for how they were cared for and supported. The plans gave clear guidance and instructions to staff about how they should care and support people and ensure their needs were met.

People were supported to take part in a wide range of activities both inside and outside the home to maintain their independence and promote a healthy lifestyle.

The registered manager demonstrated good leadership. It was clear they understood their role and responsibilities, and staff told us they were supportive and fair. The registered manager encouraged an open and transparent culture.

The home’s management team carried out regular checks of key aspects of the service to monitor and assess the safety and quality of the service that people experienced. The registered manager took appropriate action to make changes and improvements when this was needed.