This unannounced inspection took place on 22 June 2017.

Bruno’s Cottage provides accommodation with personal care for up to six people with a range of needs including, for example, people with learning disabilities and people on the autism spectrum. There were five people in residence when we inspected.

A registered manager was in not post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (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.

People were safe. Their needs had been assessed prior to admission and they each had an agreed care plan that was regularly reviewed to ensure they continued to receive the care and support they needed. Risks to people’s safety had been assessed and reviewed as people’s needs and dependencies changed. Care plans reflected each person’s individual needs and provided staff with the information and guidance they needed to manage risk and keep people safe.

People benefitted from receiving care and support from staff that knew what was expected of them and they carried out their duties effectively and with compassion. People were treated equally and shown respect as individuals that came together from a range of diverse backgrounds and cultures. There were sufficient numbers of experienced and trained staff to meet people’s assessed needs.

People were protected by robust recruitment procedures from receiving unsafe care from staff that were unsuited to the job. They were safeguarded from abuse and poor practice by staff that knew what action they needed to take if they suspected this was happening.

People’s individual preferences for the way they liked to receive their care and support were respected. People were encouraged and enabled to do things for themselves by friendly staff that were responsive and attentive them. They had insight into people’s capabilities and aspirations. People’s capacity to make informed choices had been assessed and the provider and staff were aware of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the importance of seeking people’s consent when receiving care and support.

People had enough to eat and drink. People who needed support with eating and drinking received the help they required. Their individual nutritional needs were assessed, monitored and met with appropriate guidance from healthcare professionals that was acted upon.

People that required support with taking medicines received the help they needed. Medicines were appropriately and safely managed and staff had received the training they needed in the safe administration of medicines. Medicines were securely stored and there were suitable arrangements in place for their timely administration.

People had access to community healthcare professionals and received timely medical attention when this was needed. There were appropriate arrangements in place for people to have regular healthcare check-ups.

People, and where appropriate, their family or other representatives were assured that if they were unhappy with the care provided they would be listened to and that appropriate action would be taken to resolve matters.