This unannounced inspection took place on 26 July 2017.

The service is registered to provide accommodation with personal care for up to four adults with a range of needs arising from their learning disabilities. There were three people using the service when we inspected.

A registered manager was not in post when we inspected although the service was being managed by a person who had applied to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to register. 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’s needs were safely met and they said they felt safe living at Fairlea. There were sufficient numbers of staff available to meet people’s needs in a timely way. Staff had received training to provide them with the skills and knowledge they needed to provide people with safe care. Staff recruitment processes protected people from being cared for by unsuitable people and all new staff completed a thorough induction training programme. Staff understood the importance of protecting people from abuse and avoidable harm. They knew what action they needed to take to report any concerns about people’s safety or well-being.

People’s needs were assessed prior to taking up the service and their agreed care plans reflected people’s individual needs and preferences in relation to the care provided. Assessments were in place and appropriately acted upon to reduce and manage the risks to people’s health and welfare.

People were supported to eat a healthy diet and to have access to health services in the community to improve their health and well-being. The staff followed the advice of healthcare professionals in meeting people’s needs. Staff ensured that people that required support to manage their medicines received their medicines as prescribed.

People were involved in decisions about the way in which their care and support was provided. They had developed good relationships with staff who knew them well. Support was provided by a staff team that were caring, friendly, and responsive to people’s changing needs. Staff were able to demonstrate that they understood what was required of them to provide each individual with the person centred support they needed to live fulfilling lives as independently as possible. People were treated with dignity and their right to make choices about how they preferred their care to be provided was respected. People’s rights were protected.

People benefitted from a service that was appropriately managed by the person in charge so that they received their service in a timely and reliable way. People knew how to raise concerns and complaints and the provider had appropriate policies and procedures in place to manage such eventualities. There were also systems in place to assess and monitor the on-going quality of the service. People’s views about the quality of their service were sought and acted upon.