We undertook this unannounced inspection on 5 October 2017. High Worple is registered to provide personal care and accommodation for a maximum of 5 people. The home is a detached house and accommodation is provided on the ground floor and first floor of the building. At this inspection the home had five residents with learning disabilities from an Asian background.

At our last comprehensive inspection on 6 November 2015 the service met the regulations we inspected and was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

The service had arrangements to protect people from harm and abuse. Care workers were knowledgeable regarding types of abuse and were aware of the procedure to follow when reporting abuse. Risks assessments had been carried out and risk management plans were in place to ensure the safety of people. The service followed safe recruitment practices and sufficient staff were deployed to ensure people’s needs were met. The arrangements for the administration of medicines were satisfactory and medicines administration record charts (MAR) had been properly completed.

The premises were kept clean and tidy. Infection control measures were in place. There was a record of essential maintenance of inspections by specialist contractors. There were fire safety arrangements. These included weekly alarm checks, a fire risk assessment, drills and training. Personal emergency and evacuation plans (PEEP) were prepared for people to ensure their safety in an emergency.

The service worked with healthcare professionals and ensured that people’s healthcare needs were met. The dietary needs of people had been assessed and arrangements were in place to ensure that people received adequate nutrition.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is required by law to monitor the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which applies to care homes. DoLS ensures that an individual being deprived of their liberty is monitored and the reasons why they are being restricted are regularly reviewed to make sure it is still in the person’s best interests. We noted that the home had suitable arrangements in place to comply with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and DoLS.

Care workers worked well as a team and there was effective communication among them. They had received a comprehensive induction and training programme. There were arrangements for support, supervision and appraisals of care workers.

Care workers prepared appropriate and up to date care plans which involved people and their representatives. The home had a varied activities programme to ensure that people received social and therapeutic stimulation. The service worked at encouraging people to be as independent as possible.

The service listened to people who used the service and responded appropriately. There were opportunities for people to express their views and experiences regarding the care and management of the home. Regular residents’ and relatives' meetings had been held. Complaints made had been carefully recorded and promptly responded to.

Comprehensive checks and audits of the service had been carried out by the registered manager and area manager to ensure that the service provided care of a good quality.

This inspection took place on 6 November 2015 and was unannounced.

During our last inspection on 13 June 2014 we found no breaches of the regulations assessed.

High Worple provides care to people with learning disabilities from an Asian background. It is registered to provide care for a maximum of 5 people. At the time of our inspection the home had one vacancy. The registered manager was available during this 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.

Written risk assessments were clear about the actual risk to the person and did provide guidance for staff regarding how risks were to be managed.

People were protected from the risk of abuse. The provider had taken reasonable steps to identify potential areas of concern and prevent abuse from happening. Staff members demonstrated that they understood how to safeguard the people whom they were supporting.

Medicines at the home were well managed.

The physical environment at the home was suitable for the people who lived there. The registered manager informed us that actions had been taken to address minor maintenance issues.

Staff recruitment processes were in place to ensure that care workers employed at the home were suitable. Staffing rotas met the current support needs of people, and we saw that additional staff were provided to support activities where required.

People who used the service had capacity in making independent decisions and were able to leave the home independently as they wished.

Staff training was good and met national standards for staff working in social care organisations. A number of staff had achieved relevant qualifications in health and social care. Care workers received regular supervision and appraisals, and team meetings took place each month.

People’s dietary needs were met by the home, and there was evidence that people were enabled to make choices about the food and drink that they received.

Other health and social care professionals were involved with people’s treatment and support.

Staff members treated people with respect and dignity. The home was able to meet people’s cultural and language needs.

The care plans maintained by the home provided clear person centred guidance and information in respect of how support should be provided by care workers. They had been updated to reflect current information about people who used the service that might have had a significant impact on their care.

People living at the home, relatives and care workers informed us that they were happy with the support and guidance they received from the registered manager.

Quality assurance monitoring took place regularly and records of this were in place.