Caretech Community Services – 196 High Street 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 – Caretech Community Services – 196 High Street accommodates 12 people who have a learning need or who live with Autism. The service had a registered manager in post.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and on going monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

People’s relatives told us that they were confident that people were safe living at 196 High Street.

Risks to people were appropriately assessed and protected people from harm.

The provider operated a thorough recruitment processes which helped to ensure that staff employed to provide care and support were fit to do so.

There were sufficient numbers of staff available to meet individual needs and the service provided was flexible.

Staff had received training, support and development to enable them to carry out their role effectively. The service is required to update records in relation to meeting the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLs).

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. People received appropriate support to maintain healthy nutrition and hydration.

People were treated with kindness by staff who respected their privacy and upheld their dignity. People’s relatives were encouraged to be involved with people’s lives where appropriate, to provide feedback on the service and their views were acted upon.

People received personalised care that met their individual needs. People were given appropriate support and encouragement to access meaningful activities and follow their individual interests.

People’s relatives told us they knew how to complain but had not had occasion to do so. They said they were confident they would be listened to if they wished to make a complaint.

We found that records written in a positive and respectful way we found that records provided guidance on how to support people.

We were told that staff listened to them and responded to them in a positive way. Relatives knew how to raise concerns if they needed to and told us they were confident that the registered manager would take appropriate action to address any concerns in a timely way.

The registered manager had arrangements in place to receive feedback from people who used the service, their relative, external stakeholders and staff members about the services provided.

There was an effective system in place for people to raise complaints about the service they received.

We found that records were sufficiently maintained and the systems in place to monitor the quality of services provided were effective.

The registered manager had created an open and inclusive atmosphere within the service. People who used the service, their relatives, staff and external health professionals were invited to contribute their views in relation to further developing the service.

CareTech Community Services Limited - 196 High Street is a care home without nursing. It provides care, support and treatment for up to 12 people with a learning disability or with multiple/complex needs. There were 12 people accommodated at the home at the time of this inspection.

We last inspected the service on 30 September 2013 and found the service was meeting the required standards at that time.

The home had a registered manager. 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.

CQC is required to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and to report on what we find. DoLS are in place to protect people where they do not have capacity to make decisions and where it is considered necessary to restrict their freedom in some way, usually to protect themselves or others. At the time of the inspection we found that applications had been made to the local authority in relation to six people who lived at CareTech Community Services Limited - 196 High Street.

People felt safe and were confident to approach the staff. Detailed health care and support plans were in place to ensure that staff knew how people liked their needs to be met. Risks to people’s safety and welfare had been identified and support had been planned to enable people to live as safely as possible. There were sufficient numbers of staff available to meet people’s care and support needs. People’s medicines were managed safely.

Staff members understood their individual roles and responsibilities and were supported by the management team to maintain and develop their skills and knowledge. People enjoyed a varied healthy diet and their health needs were well catered for.

The atmosphere in the home was welcoming and there was a warm interaction between the staff and people who used the service. People were involved in all aspects of their care and support as much as they were able. Relatives and friends were encouraged to visit at any time and people were actively supported to maintain family relationships. Staff promoted people’s dignity and treated them with respect.

People’s care and support was planned around their needs and they were involved in decisions about their care with support from family members and professionals. The provider had made arrangements to support people and their families to raise concerns and meetings were held for people to discuss all aspects of the care and support provided.

The manager promoted a positive culture that was transparent and inclusive. The manager and provider had robust systems to continuously check the quality of the service provided. Staff felt valued and were encouraged to contribute any ideas they may have for improving the service.

During our inspection visit to Care Tech Community Services Limited – 196 High Street we spoke with three of the eleven people who used the service. As not all of the people were able to express their views verbally we spent time observing and listening to interactions between staff and people who used the service. We spoke with three members of staff and the manager.

People living in the home expressed satisfaction with the care and service they received and told us that they liked the staff. People received care and support according to their needs. Staff were equally attentive to people who were less able to communicate their needs verbally. Staff engaged people in activities and conversation related to their interests. One person told us that they enjoyed football and staff helped arrange tickets for football matches.

People who used the service were relaxed in the presence of staff and we heard lots of laughter.The manager and staff understood their responsibilities for safeguarding people who used the service. One person who used the service told us that they felt safe, and if they were not happy with their care, the manager would listen and act on what they said.

The provider carried out effective checks to make sure people who used the service received a good standard of care. They also carried out checks for new staff, which reduced the risk of employing unsuitable people.

We spoke to three of the people who use the service and we spoke to the representatives of four more. The people who use the service told us that they were very happy with their care and that the staff look after them very well. The relatives of the people told us the home had improved very much in the past two years and the manager was doing a very good job.

One person told us that the manager really cared about the people and that he always ensured that their welfare came first. They also told us that they were informed if there was an incident in the home involving their relative or if their relative was ill.

One of the people who lives in the home told us that the staff had a good sense of humour and that they had a good laugh with them. All of the people said that they were involved in their own review of care or their relative’s review of care.

We were told by the families and by the people we spoke with that they felt safe in the home at all times.