We inspected this service on 24 August 2018.

HF Trust – 34 Shipston Road 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.

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.

The service is delivered from a large two storey house in a residential area and provides accommodation and personal care for up to four people with a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. Three people lived at the home on the day of our inspection visit and one of these was on holiday.

It is a requirement of the provider's registration that they have 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. The previous registered manager had recently left the service and a new manager had been appointed. The new manager had started the process to become registered with us.

At the last inspection in February 2016 the service was rated as Good. At this inspection we found the quality of care had been maintained and people continued to receive a service that was safe, caring, effective and responsive to their needs. The rating remains 'Good'.

There were enough skilled and knowledgeable staff to meet people’s needs and provide effective care. Staff felt they had good training and were supported in their roles. There were procedures to keep people safe and manage identified risks to their care, and staff understood how to protect people from abuse and harm. Where medicines were administered, staff were trained and assessed as competent to do so safely.

People's needs were assessed and developed into a care plan. Care plans contained detailed information to enable people to receive appropriate care and support that was responsive to their needs. The manager and staff understood their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

Staff supported people to eat and drink sufficient amounts to maintain their health. Where necessary, staff liaised with health and social care professionals to ensure effective care and support was provided to people. There were processes to ensure information was effectively shared so people's needs could continue to be met during a transition between services.

The atmosphere in the home was one of familiarity and friendship. People had formed caring relationships with staff and clearly enjoyed their company. People were well supported to maintain family and friend relationships that were important to them.

The provider had a system of quality assurance checks to ensure the home was meeting required standards and people who used the service were well cared for. The home was clean, well maintained and decorated and safety checks of the premises were regularly completed.

People's opinions were valued and they could be confident any concerns and complaints would be recognised, investigated and responded to.

This inspection took place on the 16 February 2016 and was unannounced.

34 Shipston Road provides care and accommodation for up to four people with a diagnosis of a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. At the time of our visit there were four people living in the home.

There was a registered manager 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.

34 Shipston Road provided a home environment where people were supported to lead independent lives and, where possible, make their own decisions for their everyday life. People were settled and happy and appeared relaxed with each other. During our inspection visit we saw good communication between people and staff and the interaction created a friendly environment.

The registered manager had established good relationships with people’s relatives who told us they felt informed and involved in their family member’s care. Staff supported people to maintain relationships with those closest to them.

There were sufficient numbers of staff to support people inside the home and during activities outside the home. Staffing levels were flexible to enable people to participate in activities and outings of their choice. People were busy following their interests and staff were responsive to their social needs.

Staff understood their responsibility to report any concerns they had about people’s wellbeing in accordance with the provider’s safeguarding procedure.

Staff were responsive to changes in people’s health and referred people to healthcare professionals when a need was identified. People were able to choose what they wanted to eat, but were encouraged and supported to make healthy choices.

The registered manager understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) to ensure people were looked after in a way that did not inappropriately restrict their freedom. Where necessary, applications had been made to the local authority in accordance with the DoLS.

There was a strong and stable management team in place who took time to know and understand the needs of the people who lived at the home. There was a system of internal audits and checks completed within the home to ensure the safety and quality of service was maintained. Staff supported people to make their voices heard if they were not happy with any aspects of their care.

When we visited HF Trust at 34 Shipston Road, we spoke with the registered manager, three care staff and four people who used the service. Speaking with these people helped answer our five questions; Is the service safe? Is the service effective? Is the service caring? Is the service responsive? Is the service well led?

Below is a summary of what we found. If you want to see the evidence supporting our summary please read our full report.

Is the service safe?

There were four people receiving care and support in this service on the day of our inspection. We spoke with one person who lived at the home. They told us they were satisfied with the care and attention shown by staff and confirmed if they needed anything, staff would respond promptly.

People’s health, safety and welfare was protected when more than one provider was involved in their care and treatment, or when they moved between different services. We found that when people had accessed secondary care services the provider had translated the care plan into an easy-to-read and understandable format.

We found evidence that learning took place from incidents and investigations within the service and appropriate changes were implemented to improve the service.

The provider had taken steps to provide care in an environment that was suitable and adequately maintained. People who lived at the home were care for in a safe environment.

Is the service effective?

People told us the care they received met their needs. People told us they had been involved in planning the care they received.

One service user with complex needs had undergone a specific risk assessment to allow them to ride a bicycle in a protected environment. This demonstrated the provider's focussed planning to develop unique packages of care to meet people's specific wishes.

Our discussions with the manager demonstrated the provider was fully aware of each person's individual care needs. Care plans and risk assessments were in place to be able to respond to frequently changing health care needs.

Is the service caring?

We observed staff supporting people in a positive way. Examples of this included staff helping people to prepare food where specific dietary needs had been prescribed by a speech and language therapist.

At breakfast we saw staff helping people to enjoy a nourishing meal. People were able to choose what they wanted to eat and drink and no one was rushed. We saw staff were consistent and calm in their interactions with people and this helped to reassure the people who lived at the home. Staff explained how they monitored people's care needs and described the steps they would take if they were concerned about someone's physical or mental health.

We found people were supported by kind and attentive staff.

Is the service responsive?

We reviewed four people's care records in detail and found they included assessments of their individual need and contained clear guidelines for staff to follow. This ensured people's health and personal care needs were met. People's care records included a life history and a record of the individual's needs and preferences.

People had access to activities that were important to them and had been supported by staff to fully participate in the activity.

Is the service well led?

We found the home had systems in place to assure the quality of service they provided. The way the service was run had been regularly and robustly reviewed. We found when problems were encountered they were promptly dealt with.

We were satisfied that the recruitment systems the home had in place ensured that people working at 34 Shipston Road had been suitably vetted for their posts. This meant people who lived at the home were protected from the risks associated with unsuitable staff.

The service benefitted from effective leadership.

On the day we visited 34 Shipston House we spoke with the senior carer and two support workers. There were four people living at the home and we spoke with two people about their experiences of the service. We read the care records for two people who used the service, observed care practice and staff's interaction with people when they were delivering care.

We saw that people who lived in the home were relaxed. Staff demonstrated they understood people’s personal needs and the ways they communicated those needs.

We saw that the home was clean and well maintained. We saw that people’s bedrooms were personalised and had pictures and photos of them on the wall.

On the day of our visit, people who lived at the home engaged in different activities throughout the day. For example two people went with a staff member into town for a walk. One other person spent the day at a local resource centre.

One person we spoke with who used the service told us, “The staff are friendly and understanding” and they, “Have some good fun.”