This inspection was carried out on 2 January 2019 and was unannounced.

Fiveways is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. Fiveways is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to five people who have a learning disability and other complex needs. Fiveways is on the outskirts of Whitstable and is close to local transport and amenities. Five people were living at the service at the time of inspection and each had their own personalised bedroom. People had access to a communal lounge, conservatory, kitchen, laundry room, sensory room, two bathrooms, a wet room and toilet.

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.

There was a registered manager in post, and present at the time of our inspection. 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.

At the last inspection on 8 June 2016 the service was rated 'Good' in all key questions. At this inspection, we found two breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 and have now rated the service ‘Requires Improvement’.

Checks and audits were in place, but has not been successful in identifying the concerns we identified during this inspection. The registered manager had not completed checks on new staff working at the service, and therefore did not identify issues with staff recruitment. Medicine audits failed to identify issues with medicines reconciliations.

We found that medicines management was not consistently safe. Staff failed to react when three people missed three days of medicines. Accidents and incidents were reported, but action was always not taken or clearly documented to minimise the risk of it reoccurring.

Staff knew how to safeguard people from potential harm and abuse. Staff had received a full induction, and had access to on-going training and supervision. The service was clean, well maintained and fit for purpose.

People told us, and we observed there to be sufficient staff numbers to keep people safe, and meet their needs. Risks to people had been identified and minimised where possible.

People were supported to be involved in meal planning and food preparation. People were supported to take part in meaningful activities, and encouraged to live healthier lives.

People’s needs had been assessed, and staff worked with best practice guidance. Staff knew people well, and could identify when their needs changed, and organised for input from healthcare professionals.

The registered manager understood their responsibility to comply with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.

People told us they were treated with kindness, respect and compassion. We observed staff interactions with people, and saw a mutual respect between people and staff. Staff supported people to be as independent as possible, including supporting them to take positive risks.

People received personalised care specific to their needs. People told us they choose how they spent their time.

People were suppo

This inspection took place on 08 June 2016 and was unannounced. The previous inspection was carried out in November 2014 and concerns relating to records management were identified.

Fiveways is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to five people who have a learning disability and other complex needs. Fiveways is on the outskirts of Whitstable and is close to local transport and amenities. Five people were living at the service at the time of inspection and each had their own personalised bedroom. People had access to a communal lounge, conservatory, kitchen, laundry room, sensory room, two bathrooms, a wet room and toilet.

The service had a registered manager, who was present throughout the inspection. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Staff followed correct and appropriate procedures in the storage and dispensing of medicines. People were supported in a safe environment and risks identified for people were managed in a way that enabled people to live as independent a life as possible. People were supported to maintain good health and attended appointments and check-ups. Health needs were kept under review and appropriate referrals were made when required.

A system to recruit new staff was in place. This was to make sure that the staff employed to support people were fit to do so. There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty throughout the day and night to make sure people were safe and received the care and support that they needed.

Staff had completed induction training when they first started to work at the service. Staff were supported during their induction, monitored and assessed to check that they had attained the right skills and knowledge to be able to care for, support and meet people’s needs. There were staff meetings, so staff could discuss any issues and share new ideas with their colleagues, to improve people’s care and lives.

People were protected from the risk of abuse. Staff had received safeguarding training. They were aware of how to recognise and report safeguarding concerns. Staff knew about the whistle blowing policy and were confident they could raise any concerns with the provider or outside agencies if needed.

Equipment and the premises received regular checks and servicing in order to ensure it was safe. The registered manager monitored incidents and accidents to make sure the care provided was safe. Emergency plans were in place so if an emergency happened, like a fire, the staff knew what to do.

The Care Quality Commission is required by law to monitor the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. The registered manager and staff showed that they understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Some people at the service had been assessed as lacking mental capacity to make complex decisions about their care and welfare. At the time of the inspection the registered manager had applied for DoLS authorisations for people who were at risk of having their liberty restricted.

The care and support needs of each person were different, and each person’s care plan was personal to them. People had detailed care plans, risk assessments and guidance in place to help staff to support them in an individual way.

Staff encouraged people to be involved and feel included in their environment. People were offered varied activities and participated in social activities of their choice. Staff knew people and their support needs well.

Staff were caring, kind and respected people’s privacy and dignity. There were positive and caring interactions between the staff and people and people were comfortable and at ease wit

We undertook an unannounced inspection of this home on 26 November 2014. We inspected this service previously in November 2013 and there were no concerns.

Fiveways is a small residential service for people with learning disabilities and other complex needs. It is currently home to five men of varying ages and abilities who are supported by a predominantly male staff team. Each person has their own bedroom which they have been supported to personalise, there is lots of shared space for people to use and the home is close to local transport and amenities. The service also provides some outreach support to someone living in their own flat.

The service has 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 a legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Records relating to maintenance checks, fire drills, and complaints were not well maintained to ensure people were protected against the risks of unsafe care and treatment. There were minor shortfalls in the management of medicines that needed improvement. However, staff demonstrated awareness of keeping people safe from harm, they understood about the risks people may be subject to and the measures that help to minimise these. Staff understood about keeping people safe from abusive situations and knew the action to take if they suspected abuse.

Where people lacked capacity to make decisions the staff were guided by the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 to ensure any decisions were made in the person’s best interest.

There was a friendly, relaxed atmosphere at the home and people told us they enjoyed living there. People and staff told us that there were enough staff available. Staffing levels were determined according to people’s individual needs, and additional staffing was provided when people required extra support in the community.

Staff received regular relevant training to ensure they had the right skills and knowledge to support people with learning disabilities. They ensured people received effective care relating to their diet and their ongoing healthcare needs, and consulted with people, their relatives and health and social care professionals about their care and support needs.

People took part in activities of their choice that they enjoyed. People made everyday decisions for themselves, but for those people who lacked capacity to make important decisions related to their care and treatment best interest meetings were held, and these involved relatives and other professionals.

People and staff found the registered manager approachable and supportive; she was familiar with the needs of all the people. Regular staff and residents’ meetings were held where people and staff could express their views. People felt confident of raising concerns they might have with staff. The provider ensured that systems were in place to monitor the service and make sure that the quality of care and support people received was maintained and had on-going improvements.

We recommend that the provider reviews good practice guidance published by NICE in respect of management of medicines in Care Homes.

We have identified a breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010.

We spoke with three people who used the service. Two people living at the service were not able to talk to us directly about their experiences due to their complex needs and communication difficulties, so we used a number of different methods to help us understand their experiences. We spoke with staff, spent time with people, read records, looked around the home and made observations of the care and support that people received. People we spoke with were positive about the service. People told us that the staff were “nice.” One person told us “It’s good here. I have friends.”

We saw that the provider had systems in place to obtain consent from people in relation to the care and support they received.

People told us and records confirmed that the service responded to people’s health needs and that staff talked to people about their care and any changes that may be needed. People said that they were happy with the care they received and that they got on well with the small team of staff.

People told us that they felt safe and that if they were not happy about anything they would speak to the manager.

We found that there were effective recruitment and selection processes in place for the recruitment and management of staff, and the staff working there had had the necessary recruitment checks.

The provider had procedures in place for dealing with complaints, comments and suggestions. There were systems in place to safeguard people from harm and abuse.

People told us or expressed that they liked living at Fiveways and told us staff treated them with dignity and respect. One person told us “I am very happy here. I like the staff we get on well. Another person told us “staff are very nice. I like living here.

People met regularly to talk about the service and things like the menu and activities. Independence and individuality was promoted within the home. People living at the service were supported, enabled and encouraged to express their views and to make or participate in making decisions relating to their care and treatment. People told us or expressed that the staff were kind and helpful and that they felt safe. We saw that staff spoke to people with kindness and patience.

People told us or expressed that the staff were kind and helpful and that they felt safe. We saw that staff spoke to people with kindness and patience.

People’s hobbies and interests were supported and people were supported to keep in touch with and visit their family and friends. People who used the service were part of the local and wider community and had support to access and take part in a wide range of leisure and work activities.

The service worked closely with health and social care professionals to ensure that people had the support they needed to remain well and healthy.