Crossbrook Court is registered to provide accommodation, personal care and treatment for 12 people with mental health needs and learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. At the time of our inspection there were 10 people living at the home and another person was expected to move in on the day of the inspection. There were three bedrooms in one building and nine in the other. Both buildings spread over two floors.

At our last inspection on 25 November 2015 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 ongoing 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 told us they felt safe. Staff spoken with were aware of how to keep people safe from harm and demonstrated their awareness to us of identifying when a person may be at risk of harm or abuse. Risks to people’s physical and mental health were assessed and appropriate measures put in place to mitigate the risks. People’s medicines were managed safely.

Where people had been diagnosed with a mental health condition, staff sought the advice of a psychiatrist who regularly reviewed people’s mental health needs and was on hand should people’s mental health decline.

Staff completed a range of training and they felt supported by the managers at the home to carry out their roles effectively. Staff demonstrated their awareness of how to support people who may not be able to make their own decisions about their care or treatment. 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 were supported to eat a nutritious and healthy diet and could choose what they ate. Staff involved health and social care professionals in people`s care.

People told us that staff were kind, caring and patient and they were treated in a dignified and respectful manner and staff understood the importance of respecting their dignity and privacy.

People were actively involved in developing and shaping their care in a manner that was important to them. People's care plans were reviewed regularly to help ensure they continued to meet people's needs. Where people’s care was reviewed by a multi-disciplinary team, that involved the person, their key worker, occupational and behavioural therapists, the manager along with any other relevant professionals.

People told us they were supported to pursue individual interests and leisure activities with support from staff. People told us that staff responded when they made a complaint or raised a concern. Complaints were listened to, recorded and responded to appropriately.

There were quality assurance systems in place effectively used by the manager and the provider to constantly improve the service provided to people.

Further information is in the detailed findings below

The inspection took place on the 25 November 2015 and was unannounced. The service was newly registered and this was the first inspection since being registered. At this inspection we found that they were meeting the required standards.

Crossbrook Court is registered to provide accommodation, personal care and treatment for nine people with mental health needs and learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. At the time of our inspection there were three people living at the home.

There was a newly employed manager in position who has not yet registered with the Care Quality Commission; however they were in the process of completing their registration. ‘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.

People`s medicines were administered safely by staff who was appropriately trained, however we found that medicines were not always recorded in accordance with best practice guidelines. This was addressed by the manager on the day of the inspection.

People were cared for in a purpose built environment which was appropriately maintained and suitable for people with mental health problems.

Staff was trained and able to recognise any signs of abuse and knew how to report concerns. People were looked after by sufficient numbers of staff to meet their needs safely at all times.

People were encouraged and supported to live as independently as possible and to be part of their community. Risk to people`s health, safety and wellbeing were identified and measures were in place to manage and mitigate the risks to keep people safe.

People`s physical and mental health was monitored by staff who knew them well. They were able to establish if people needed input from their GP, psychiatrist, social worker or they just needed support from staff.

Staff were appropriately trained and skilled to ensure they had the abilities and knowledge to understand people with mental health problems, identify triggers and manage behaviours which were challenging at times and potentially dangerous. Newly employed staff had comprehensive induction training and were given time to read people`s support plans before they were introduced to people.

The provider planned to move people in the home one at the time over a period of time to ensue people were given plenty of time to settle in and get to know each other before a new person was introduced.

The new manager had identified areas of the service in need of development, they were in the process of changing people`s support plans to ensure the risk assessments were detailed and regularly reviewed; and the plan was more person centred.

The provider carried out several weekly and monthly audits and any issues emerging following these audits were actioned and followed up to ensure the service improved and the shortfalls were corrected.