The inspection took place on 28 October 2016 and it was announced. We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice of our inspection as they are a small residential home for adults with learning disabilities and we needed to ensure that some people would available for us to speak with.

The service provides accommodation and personal care for up to eight people living with learning disabilities and autism. At the time of our inspection, there were eight people using the service.

The home has 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 & Social Care Act and associated regulations about how the service is run.

People were safe and staff understood how to report concerns to the relevant agencies. Risk assessments had been completed to identify any risks to people and control measures implemented to help keep people safe. The service employed enough staff to meet people’s needs and recruitment procedures were followed correctly. Medicines were managed safely and people’s healthcare needs were identified and met.

People enjoyed a varied menu, were encouraged to cook independently where possible, and had enough to eat and drink. People and their families were actively involved in care and support planning, and were supported to achieve positive, person-centred outcomes. People’s dignity and privacy was respected by kind and caring staff.

Staff were knowledgeable and positive about the people they supported and demonstrated a caring attitude. Interactions between staff and people using the service were caring, and there was a key worker system in place to help meet people’s individual needs. Staff received a range of training which enabled them to carry out their roles effectively. They were supported through an on-going program of supervision and appraisal.

People using the service and their relatives spoke highly of the registered manager and the culture of the service. There were robust systems in place to monitor the quality of people’s care, with regular audits by senior management. People and staff were given opportunities to contribute towards the development of the service through regular meetings.

This unannounced inspection was carried out on 9 April 2015.

Bellevue Care Home is registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide accommodation, care and support for up to eight adults with learning disabilities. The home offers accommodation over two floors.

At the time of our inspection, there was a registered manager in place. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People were assisted by staff in a way that supported their safety and they were treated with respect. People had support plans in place which took account of their needs and individual choices.

People’s medicines were administered by staff who had received training to ensure that they were administered safely and in a timely manner.

Staff cared for people in a warm and caring manner to meet their individual needs.

Staff were supported to maintain and develop their skills and knowledge by way of regular supervision, appraisals and training.

There were enough skilled, qualified staff to provide for people’s needs. The necessary recruitment and selection processes were in place and the provider had taken steps to ensure that staff were suitable to work with people who lived at the home.

People were supported to have a healthy and nutritious diet and to access other healthcare services when required.

People were able to raise any suggestions or concerns they might have with the manager and were listened to.

Arrangements were in place to ensure the quality of the service provided to people was regularly monitored.

People were involved in meaningful activities both in the home and outside of the home.

When we visited Belle Vue Care Home on 8 April 2013, we used a number of different methods to help us understand the experiences of people using the service. This was because some people had complex needs which meant they were not always able to tell us their experiences.

We observed that people's consent was sought before care and support was delivered, and people were encouraged and supported to make their own decisions. Where people lacked the capacity to make decisions for themselves, appropriate processes had been followed to ensure best interest decisions were made on their behalf.

There were robust recruitment systems in place to ensure that the staff employed were suitable to work in this environment. We observed people were effectively supported by staff to participate in activities of their choice, such as using sensory equipment, and shopping in the local community.

There was a relaxed atmosphere in this home, which provided a clean and well maintained environment for people. The use of assistive technology had been introduced to promote safety and inclusion in the home.

There was information displayed relating to the complaints procedure, so that people who used the service and visitors to the home knew how to raise any concerns with the provider.

The people who were living at Belle Vue Care Home when we visited on 23 April 2012, had varied levels of verbal communication, however they were all able to demonstrate through speech, facial expressions and gestures that they were satisfied with the care and support they received. One person said. “I’m very happy here and the staff help me. They look after me well and make sure I’m not bullied by anyone”.

People looked clean and well cared for, and where people needed support or assistance with personal care this was done in the privacy of their room to protect their dignity.

We observed the staff interacting with them in a caring and respectful way offering them choices and supporting them to achieve personal goals. One person told us. “I love cooking and helping in the kitchen”.

Most of the people that we spoke with attended day centres or college courses of their choice, and some people were in part time paid or voluntary employment in the local community. They also led busy social lives in the evenings and at weekends.

Meetings were held each month for people in this home to attend, and they were encouraged to share their views and ideas about all aspects of life at Belle Vue and how it could be improved. This forum was also used for information sharing and planning group activities such as holidays

People had access to a wealth of information relating to the home which was displayed on notice boards in the communal areas of the home. This included information about people’s rights and how to make a complaint, how to access advocacy support services and safeguarding contact information.

People who were living at 123 New Bedford Road had varied levels of verbal communication, and when we spoke with them during our visit on the 13 October 2011, they were all able to demonstrate through speech, facial expressions and gestures that they were happy living there, and that they felt safe.

People looked clean and well cared for, and where people needed support or assistance with personal care this was done in the privacy of their room to protect their dignity.

We observed the staff interacting with them in a caring and respectful way offering them choices and supporting them to achieve personal goals.

Many of the people that we spoke with attended day centres or college courses of their choice, and one person did voluntary work, part time in the local community. They also led busy social lives in the evenings and at weekends.

People had access to a wealth of information relating to the home which was displayed on notice boards in the communal areas of the home. This included information about people’s rights and how to make a complaint, how to access Advocacy Services and safeguarding contact information.