Eldra Court provides care and support for up to seven adults with learning disabilities. From the same location a number of people were supported under a Supported Living scheme. A supported living scheme is one where people live in their own home and receive care and support in order to promote their independence. At the time of our inspection the service provided support to 27 people living in their own homes. However, only four people required support to meet their personal care needs. Therefore we only looked at the care and support received by those people. Eldra Court provides other services which help people to live independently, such as assistance with shopping and enabling people undertake activities in the community.

This inspection took place on 15 and 16 November 2016 and the first day was unannounced. The service was last inspected on 20 November 2013 when it met the requirements that we looked at.

Two managers were registered for the service. However, we were told only one person worked as the registered manager, with the other now employed as a service manager. They told us they would be applying to de-register as manager of Eldra Court. 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.

Kind and caring staff ensured people received care and support that was responsive to their needs. One member of staff told us they enjoyed watching people “flourish”. They went on to say they saw their role as one which helped people “Live their lives and dream their dreams.” One relative told us the service was “Like another family” and that their relative liked “all the carers and they like him.” Another relative said “can’t fault them (staff) in any way.”

Staff were aware of the visions and values of the service. They told us that HEART (Honesty, Empathy, Aspiration, Respect and Teamwork) was at the centre of all their work. Staff felt this was embodied in their work in helping people live “valued and fulfilled lives.”

Staff ensured people’s privacy and dignity was respected and all personal care was provided in private. People’s care plans gave staff instructions on how their needs were to be met. Care plans were written in a positive way, which empowered and valued the person. People’s plans contained goals for each individual. One person’s goal was to be in regular contact with their relatives. We saw the service helped the person achieve this through the use of technology as well as regular visits.

Staff knew the people they supported and understood their needs and preferences well. People were offered choices in all aspects of their lives. People and their relatives were involved in making decisions about care provided by staff.

There were enough staff available to meet people’s needs and support people to take part in activities, courses and outings. The service had set up a series of courses for people to attend in response to the withdrawal of many local authority free courses. Courses on offer included cookery and arts and crafts.

People were supported to maintain a healthy balanced diet and had a choice for each meal. Staff ensured people’s health care needs were addressed. People were supported to attend healthcare appointments and received visits from healthcare professionals. People's medicines were stored and managed safely and they received their medicines at the times they were prescribed to be given.

Following the inspection we received an email from a social care professional who told us how well people were supported by staff. They wrote in an email “Both my residents can present some challenges in regards of supporting them and I was happy that the strategies they (staff) use work well.”

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There was a relaxed and calm atmosphere when we arrived. People greeted us with smiles and hugs and told us they enjoyed living at this service. One person said "All the staff are great". Another person told us "they help me clean my room".

We saw that people were encouraged to be independent and were given support where necessary. During our visit, we saw people going out, cleaning their rooms and making their breakfasts, all with appropriate levels of staff support.

People visited their local community when they wished. Two people told us they “to go to a disco”, which was part of a weekly club.

People told us they felt safe at this service. Staff were trained to recognise safeguarding issues and were confident about raising any concerns that may arise. There was a relaxed atmosphere in the service during our visit. People were happy and chatty with each other.

Staff told us they felt well supported by the manager, and attended relevant training in order to support people to the best of their abilities.

There were processes in place to maintain quality and make improvements where necessary.

People we spoke with told us they enjoyed living at Eldra Court and were treated professionally and with respect by the staff. We saw that independence and choice were promoted and encouraged.

People were supported to access the local community and enjoy a range of activities.

We found that staff were well supervised and received appropriate and regular training. Staff were well supported by the manager.