Holendene Way is registered to provide personal care for up to four adults with a learning disability. At the time of our inspection four people were using the service.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and on-going monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

There was not registered manager in post. There is a care coordinator acting as manager who is responsible for the running of the home. 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. People were safe and individual risks to people were considered and reviewed when needed. There were enough staff available to offer support to people and medicines were managed in a safe way. There were safeguarding procedures in place these were followed to ensure people were protected from potential harm. Infection control procedures were in place and followed. There were systems in place to ensure lessons were learnt when things went wrong.

People continued to receive effective care. People were 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 supported this practice. People enjoyed the food that was available and were offered a choice. Staff were supported and trained to ensure that they had the skills to support people effectively, in line with current best practice. When needed people received support from health professionals in a timely manner. The home was decorated to meet people’s individual needs.

People continued to be supported in a caring way by staff they were happy with. People’s privacy and dignity was promoted and people continued to be offered choices. People were encouraged to maintain relationships that were important to them.

People continued to receive responsive care. People received care that was responsive to their needs and preferences. People had the opportunity to participate in activities they enjoyed. When needed people had information available to them in an accessible format. Complaint procedures were in place and followed when needed.

The service remained well led. Quality assurance systems were in place to identify where improvements could be made and when needed these changes were made. The provider notified us of significant events that occurred within the home. Feedback was sought from people and their relatives and this was used to bring about changes.

This inspection was unannounced and took place on 24 February 2016. Our last inspection took place in 2014 and we found no concerns within the areas we looked at. The service was registered to provide personal care for up to four adults with a learning disability. At the time of our inspection four people were using the service.

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.

When mental capacity assessment had been completed the information recorded in them was not always accurate and did not reflect people’s capacity. When people needed access to health professionals this had not always been identified by the provider and responded to in a timely manner.

People told us they felt safe at the service and staff had received training to ensure they knew how to recognise and report any concerns. Staff told us they had received training and an induction that had helped them to understand and support people better.

We found risks to people were managed in a way to keep them safe. There were sufficient staff to support people and meet their needs. People received their medicines safely and there were checks to ensure medicines were appropriately recorded and stored. There were choices at mealtimes for people and they told us they enjoyed the food.

Staff had developed positive relationships with people and they knew about their life and daily choices. People were encouraged to be independent and their privacy and dignity was respected.

Checks were completed by the provider and the staff to bring about improvements. Staff felt they were listened to and were given the opportunity to raise concerns. We found there was a complaints procedure in place and people and relatives knew how to complain.

We visited 1 Holendene Way on a planned unannounced inspection which meant that the service did not know we were coming. In this report the name of a registered manager appears. They were not in post and not managing the regulatory activities at this service at the time of the inspection. Their name appears because they were still a registered manager on our register at the time.

Below is a summary of our finding based on our observations, speaking to people who used the service, their relatives, the staff supporting them and from looking at records.

If you want to see the evidence supporting our summary please read the full report.

Is it safe?

Staff told us and we observed that there were enough staff to safely meet the needs of people who used the service.

Risk assessments were completed when risks to people's well being were identified. Staff had the information to support people though periods of anxieties to reduce the risk of harm to the person and other people who used the service.

Staff encouraged and supported people to make choices and decisions. When people did not have the capacity to make certain decisions, family, friends and advocates were involved.

Staff had medication training and managed medicines in a safe way. Medicines were stored securely and records were accurate.

The service kept the premises, services and equipment well maintained.

Is It caring?

People were observed to be treated with dignity and respect by the staff supporting them. People told us they were happy and liked living at 1 Holendene Way.

Care was individual and centred on each person. They received their care and support from staff that knew and understood their history, likes, preferences, needs, hopes and goals.

The physical environment supported people’s privacy, confidentiality and promoted independence.

Is it responsive?

People received care that was personalised and put them at the centre of identifying their needs, choices and preferences. People were supported to express their views.

People who used the service were encouraged and supported to engage with services and events outside of the home.

Is it effective?

People who used the service were supported to live their lives in the way they choose and to be as independent as possible.

Support for staff was provided through effective training and supervision.

Staff told us and we saw that they provided personalised care to meet individual needs.

Is it well led?

The registered manager had recently left the service. A new person has been recruited for this position.

Systems were in place to regularly monitor the quality and safety of the service. People who used the service told us they were satisfied with the home and were happy to be living at 1 Holendene Way.