Errol House provides accommodation for people with a learning disability. The service can accommodate five people in single rooms all on the ground floor, with shared bathing facilities. There is a lounge and a dining area and accessible gardens. The home does not have a lift, however, it is only the office and staff facilities located on the first floor. The house has its own transport and is close to local amenities.

At the last inspection in January 2015 the service was rated Good.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for ‘Errol House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk’

At this unannounced inspection on the 20 June 2017 we found the service remained Good. The service met all relevant fundamental standards.

The service had a registered manager. 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 were protected from the risk of harm or abuse because staff employed were trained in safeguarding adults and understood their responsibilities. The registered provider had policies and systems in place to manage safeguarding incidents and maintained records of any suspected or actual safeguarding concerns.

Risks were managed and reduced so that people avoided injury or harm. The premises were safely maintained and there was documentary evidence to show this. Staffing numbers were sufficient to meet people's needs and recruitment systems were followed to ensure staff were suitable to support people.

Systems were in place to make sure people received their medications safely, which included key staff receiving medication training and regular audits of the system.

Robust recruitment procedures ensured the right staff were employed to meet people’s needs safely. At the time of the inspection there was sufficient staff on duty to meet people’s needs.

People were supported to have choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.

People received adequate nutrition and hydration to maintain their health and wellbeing. The premises were suitably designed and furnished for providing care and support to people with a learning disability. This included accessible gardens and a patio area.

People were treated with respect. People and their relatives told us staff were kind and very caring. Staff demonstrated a good awareness of how to respect people’s preferences and they ensured their privacy and dignity was maintained. We saw staff took account of people’s individual needs and preferences while supporting them.

People could take part in activities of their own choice and there were also organised group activities. People received one to one support for activities in the community and had an organised holiday each year.

The service was well-led and people had the benefit of a culture and management style that were inclusive and caring. Staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities and had access to policies and procedures to inform and guide them.

A system was in place for checking the quality of the service using audits, satisfaction surveys and meetings. People made their views known through direct discussion with the registered manager and staff or via the complaint and quality monitoring systems. People's privacy and confidentiality were maintained as records were held securely on the premises.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

This was an unannounced inspection carried out on the 11 February 2015. At the last inspection in June 2013 we found the provider met the regulations we looked at.

Errol House is registered to provide accommodation for up to five people who have a learning disability, autistic spectrum disorder or a sensory impairment. It is in the historic village of Boston Spa, which has good local amenities, and is short distance from the market town of Wetherby. Harrogate, York and Leeds and the surrounding area can be easily accessed from the service.

At the time of this inspection the home had a registered manager. 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.

There were good systems and processes in place to protect people from the risk of harm and make sure care was delivered safely. We saw a person who used the service was comfortable and relaxed with staff. Parents of a person who used the service and those planning to use the service said they had no concerns about the safety of their family member.

We found people were cared for, or supported by, sufficient numbers of suitably qualified and experienced staff. Robust recruitment and selection procedures were in place. Staff received the training and support required to meet people’s needs.

People received their prescribed medication when they needed it and appropriate arrangements were in place for the storage and disposal of medicines. Staff were trained in medication management.

People’s needs were assessed and care and support was planned and delivered in line with their individual support plans which described their needs, preferences and wishes well. Staff had good relationships with the people using the service. Staff knew how to respect people’s privacy and dignity.

Staff were trained in the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. The provider had identified anyone thought to be at risk of having their liberty deprived and made suitable arrangements to assess this.

Staff said they received good support and training to enable them to carry out their role. They spoke positively about the leadership of the management team; saying they were approachable. They said they had confidence in the registered manager if ever they reported any concerns.

Suitable arrangements were in place and people were supported and provided with a choice of suitable healthy food and drink ensuring their nutritional needs were met. A good range of activity was available to people who used the service, both in the home and the wider community.

Health, care and support needs were monitored, assessed and met by contact with health professionals as needed.

Overall, records showed that provider investigated and responded to people’s complaints, according to the provider’s complaints procedure.

There were effective systems in place to manage, monitor and improve the quality of the service provided. The provider and manager showed a commitment to seeking feedback on the service in order for it to continually improve.

Before people received any care or support they were asked for their consent and the provider acted in accordance with their wishes. People’s views and experiences were taken into account in the way care was delivered.

People’s needs were assessed and care and support was planned and delivered in line with their individual care needs. The care plans contained a good level of information setting out exactly how each person should be supported to ensure their needs were met. One person told us, “It is alright. I like coming to stay, I enjoy it.”

Medicines were given to people appropriately. We observed one person being given their medication and this was done in a considerate and encouraging way.

We found people were supported by sufficient numbers of qualified, skilled and experienced staff which met people’s needs. The rotas we looked at showed the staffing levels agreed within the home were being complied with, and this included the skill mix of staff. They confirmed there were sufficient staff, of all designations, on shift at all times.

There were quality monitoring programmes in place, which included people giving feedback about their care, support and treatment. This provided a good overview of the quality of the service’s provided.

People who used the service told us they were happy with the care provided. One person told us “I have lots of fun.” Another person told us “I am going to be part of a service user group soon”, “I can chill out when I want to”, It’s brilliant, I feel involved in my care” and “I can choose when I get up on a morning.”

People who used the service told us they were happy when they stayed at the home and they were well looked after. One person told us, “I like everything about living here.” Another person told us “It’s a good place”, “I am well looked after and staff know my needs” and “I feel like I am on holiday, it’s a nice place to come on holiday.”