This unannounced inspection took place on 12 September 2018. Baring Lodge can accommodate up to six people. The service is situated in a large purpose built building with communal areas. People had their own bedrooms with shared bathroom facilities.

The service is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. At the time of this inspection four people with a mental health condition lived at the service.

This is the first inspection at Baring Lodge since they registered with the Care Quality Commission in October 2017.

The service has 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.

Safeguarding policies and processes were in place to keep people safe. Staff followed safeguarding guidance to reduce the risks of harm and abuse. Staff completed safeguarding training which enabled them to manage an allegation of abuse effectively and to report this to the local authority for investigation.

Staff identified risks that affected people’s health and wellbeing. Staff developed risk management plans to record the actions they would take to manage and reduce those identified risks.

The registered manager carried out pre-employment checks with newly employed staff before they began working at the service. Staff recruitment records contained documents relating to their previous employment, identification, job references and the right to work in the UK.

The registered manager arranged for sufficient numbers of staff to support people each day. The staffing levels were flexible enough to support people to attend appointments or activities outside of the home.

Medicines were managed safely. There were systems in place for the ordering, storage and management of people’s medicines. Staff were assessed as safe to administer people’s prescribed medicines.

Care records were person centred. Assessments detailed the care decisions people made including their opinions and views of their support. Each person had a care plan and an assessment of their health and care needs. People, relatives, health and social care professionals were involved and contributed to them. There were no people requiring palliative care or end of life care at the service. However, staff understood how they would support a person’s wishes and views at this time.

There was an activities programme in place. People had an individual and a group programme of activities. Staff supported people to attend social activities of their choice in their local community. There was a wide range of activities that took place in the service which people also enjoyed.

There was a programme for staff that supported them in their role. Staff completed an induction programme, training and supervision. The registered manager had plans in place for an annual appraisal.

Staff understood the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and protected people’s rights. People gave staff their permission and consent to the care and support they received. People also provided their consent in a written format when required.

People had enough to eat and drink. Meals were cooked on site by staff and people decided what meals were to be on the menu. People told us they had enough to eat and drink as they wished.

People were supported by staff to access health care services. When people’s needs changed, staff sought advice and support from health and social care professionals. Annual health care checks were arranged for people.

Staff were kind to people and showed them compassion. Staff provided assura