People in care homes receive accommodation and their care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided and both were looked at during this inspection. Fountain View provides care for up to six adults with a learning disability and mental health needs, sometimes accompanied by complex needs and behaviours which might challenge others. At the time of our inspection, there were five people living at the service.

The service had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.

This was the first comprehensive inspection of the service under the current provider Community Homes of Intensive Care and Education Limited.

Some aspects of the care provided were ‘outstanding’.

People were very much at the heart of the service. Staff and the registered manager demonstrated a real commitment to support people reach their potential through the provision of person centred care.

The support provided was achieving positive outcomes for people and staff spoke with pride about what people had achieved.

People with complex needs and behaviours were supported in a person centred way and in the least restrictive manner.

People were encouraged to live their life as any other citizen and their choices, independence and inclusion were encouraged. The service had established itself in the local community which helped avoid the risk of discrimination and promoted acceptance and understanding.

People were living active and meaningful lives and were given opportunities to expand their horizons, to get involved in new activities and to live as full a life as possible.

The service was very well led. People, their relatives and staff were extremely positive about the registered manager and their leadership of the service describing them as “Forward thinking” and “Exceptional”.

The registered manager had fostered a very positive culture within the home and demonstrated a real passion and commitment to their role and it was evident that people were at the heart of the service.

There were a range of robust management systems and processes in place to support the registered manager to perform her role effectively and they were exceptionally well organised and proactive at making changes if this improved the service people received.

There was a clear focus on staff using proactive interventions and encouraging people to use self-help strategies to help avoid the need for physical interventions or use of PRN medicines. This approach was helping to achieve the positive outcomes for people.

Other areas were ‘good’

Staff understood how to recognise and respond to abuse and had a good understanding of risks to people’s health and wellbeing. Staff supported people in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Safe recruitment practices were followed and there were sufficient numbers of experienced staff to meet people’s needs and to support them to undertake a range of activities.

Medicines were managed safely.

The home was clean and policies and procedures were in place to protect people by the prevention and control of infections.

Overall the premises were of a suitable design and layout to meet people’s needs.

People's rights were protected because the registered manager ensured that the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) were embedded within the service.

Overall staff received an effective induction, training and ongoing development.

Staff supported people with their dietary needs.

There were systems in plac