This unannounced inspection took place on 31July and 02 August 2017. This residential care service is registered to provide accommodation and personal care support for up to six people with learning disabilities. At the time of the inspection there were five people living at the home.

At the last inspection in August 2015 the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found that the service remained Good.

There was a registered manager in post 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.

People continued to receive safe care and support. Staff were knowledgeable about the risks to people and effective plans of care had been developed to guide staff in mitigating people’s known risks.

People could be assured that sufficient numbers of staff were available to provide their care and that they would receive their prescribed medicines safely. People were supported by staff that knew them well and had received the support, supervision and training that they needed to provide effective care.

People developed positive relationships with the staff; who were caring and treated people with respect, kindness and courtesy. People had detailed personalised plans of care in place to enable staff to provide consistent care and support in line with people’s personal preferences. People knew how to raise a concern or make a complaint and the provider had effective systems in place to manage any complaints that they may receive.

The service had a positive ethos and an open culture. The registered manager was a positive role model in the service and worked alongside care staff to offer guidance and support.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

This unannounced inspection took place on 11 August 2015. The home provides support for up to six people with Learning Disabilities. At the time of the inspection there were five people living at the home.

There was 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.

People told us that they felt safe in the home. Staff understood the need to protect people from  harm and abuse and knew what action they should take if they had any concerns. Staffing levels ensured that people received the support they required at the times they needed. We observed that on the day of our inspection there were sufficient staff on duty. The recruitment practice protected people from being cared for by staff that were unsuitable to work at the home.

Care records contained risk assessments to protect people from identified risks and help to keep them safe. They gave information for staff on the identified risk and informed staff on the measures to take to minimise any risks.

People were supported to take their medicines as prescribed. Records showed that medicines were obtained, stored, administered and disposed of safely. People were supported to maintain good health and had access to healthcare services when needed.

People were actively involved in decision about their care and support needs There were formal systems in place to assess people’s capacity for decision making under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). People felt safe and there were clear lines of reporting safeguarding concerns to appropriate agencies and staff were knowledgeable about safeguarding adults.

Care plans were in place detailing how people wished to be supported and people were involved in making decisions about their care. People participated in a range of activities both in the home and in the community and received the support they needed to help them do this. People were able to choose where they spent their time and what they did. Pictorial formats of weekly timetables and medical appointments were in place.

Staff had good relationships with the people who lived at the home. Complaints were appropriately investigated and action was taken to make improvements to the service when this was found to be necessary. The registered manager was visible and accessible. Staff and people living in the home were confident that issues would be addressed and that any concerns they had would be listened to.

As the people we spoke with had some communication difficulties, we briefly spoke with four people. They all said they liked living in the home.

We spoke with one relative, who told us that she had been fully satisfied with the care their relative received: ‘’the home is excellent. There have never been any concerns’’.

We observed the relationship between the owner and the people who lived in the home. This was friendly and encouraging.

This was a positive inspection. People we spoke with told us they were satisfied with the care provided. All the relatives we spoke with also said that they had no concerns. The essential standards we inspected were found to have been met.

We spoke with three people living in the home at the time of the inspection. Two of these people had communication difficulties. However, they all briefly confirmed that they were satisfied with the care that they received.

A person told us; ‘’This is my home and I like it here. Staff are good‘’.

We spoke with four relatives. They all told us that the care that staff provided was of a high standard. They thought that the quality of care from staff was very good.

One relative said; “this place is fantastic. The manager and all the staff are down-to-earth. They provide great care. I'm so glad my son is here’’.

We received no comments of concern.

This was a positive inspection. People living in the home said they were satisfied with care. Their relatives all confirmed they thought care was of a high standard. All the standards that we inspected were met.

We visited the service on 10 February 2012 because we had not carried out an inspection since 2009. There were five people living at Highfields when we visited. We spoke with two people who use the service and one staff member to ask for their views on the home.

We saw people looked content and relaxed. We spoke with two people who told us that they were happy living at Highfields. Both told us the staff were helpful. We spoke with a staff member who told us that the manager made sure people were happy and that they felt able to ask for anything they wanted.