This inspection took place on 11 and 13 June 2018 and was unannounced. This is the first inspection for the location under this new provider.

Dimensions Somerset Greengates is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Dimensions Somerset Greengates accommodates up to seven people with learning disabilities, including autism. At the time of the inspection there were five people living at the home. Most of the people were unable to communicate verbally with us. Their opinions were captured through observations, interactions they had with staff and their reactions. People had their own bedrooms and there were shared bathrooms. Within the home there were communal spaces including two living rooms and a kitchen. There was a garden people were free to access throughout the day.

"The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen”. Registering the Right Support CQC policy.

At the time of the inspection there was 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 and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Although people and their relatives told us they were safe, we found there could be improvements to keep people safe in the event of a fire. Staff knew how to prevent the spread of infection and people’s medicine was managed safely. Health and safety checks such as testing the water for a specific disease were regularly completed to keep people safe.

People told us they were happy and others appeared comfortable in the presence of staff. Those able to tell us and one relative told us they were kept safe. Risk assessments were carried out to enable people to retain their independence and receive care with minimum risk to themselves or others.

The management had developed positive relationships with people, their families and other professionals. There were enough staff to keep people safe including using regular agency staff. Staff had received a range of training to meet most of the people’s needs. Recruitment systems were in place to reduce the risk of inappropriate staff working at the home.

People were protected from potential abuse because staff understood how to recognise signs of abuse and knew who to report it to. When there had been accidents or incidents systems were in place to demonstrate lessons learnt and how improvements were made. People had their healthcare needs met and staff supported them to see other health and social care professionals. When changes were identified to manage health needs staff liaised with health professionals.

People were supported to have choice and control over their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. There was clear guidance to inform staff how people would give their consent. When people lacked capacity, decisions had been made on their behalf following current legislation. People were supported to eat a healthy, balanced diet and had choices about what they ate. Specialist diets were understood and staff had enough guidance to support people.

Care and support was personalised to each person which ensured they could make choices about their day to day lives. Care plans contained information about people’s needs and wishes and staff were aware of them. These were updated in line with people’s changing ne