This service is a domiciliary care agency. John Pounds House is a supported living service for adults with mental health needs. This service provides personal care for people living in the building spread over three floors and with 20 self-contained flats. There were 19 people using the service at the time of this inspection.

This inspection took place on 12 February 2018 and was unannounced.

At the last inspection, carried out on 14 December 2015, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

At the time of the inspection the service had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

There were robust systems in place for monitoring and recording any concerns received in relation to people being at risk to harm. Risk assessments were followed by staff to reduce known risks to people’s well- being. Staff undertook pre-employment checks which ensured they were suitable for their role. Staff supported people to learn to manage their medicines independently. Infection control and fire safety measures were in place and followed by staff as necessary.

The staff team was provided with internal and external training which met their role expectations. People were encouraged to learn to prepare their own meals. Thorough initial assessments were carried out to determine if the service was able to support people with their care needs. Staff assisted people to attend their health appointments if they needed support. People lived in self-contained flats that that were spacious and suited them. Staff were clear on the actions they had to take if people’s capacity was doubted to make their own decisions.

People felt their private life was respected. Staff were caring and listened if people had any concerns that needed addressing. Staff were aware of people’s preferences and supported people the way they wanted to be cared for. People had assistance to learn new skills and increase their independence where necessary.

People had their care needs identified and reviewed regularly with the relevant healthcare professionals involved. Staff responded promptly to people’s changing mental and health needs. People had actions plans in place to support them to build social relationships and interact with other people. Staff encouraged people to share and respect their cultural differences. People raised their concerns with the staff team who took actions to resolve the issues as necessary.

People and their relatives said there was good leadership at the service. We saw good team working practices which included sharing experiences and learning to protect people as necessary. The management team provided on- going support for the staff team to ensure good service delivery for people. Quality assurance systems were in place and monitored for any improvements required. The service worked in partnership with external agencies to share information and inform people about the services available in the community.

We conducted an inspection of John Pounds House on 14 December 2015. John Pounds House is a supported living service for adults with mental health needs that provides personal care for

people living in the building. There were 20 people using the service when we visited. This was our first inspection of the service since the provider’s registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

There was a registered manager at the service. 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.

Staff had completed medicines administration training within the last year and were clear about their responsibilities.

Risk assessments and support plans contained clear information for staff. All records were reviewed within six months or where the person’s care needs had changed.

Staff demonstrated knowledge of their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Care records contained various consent forms demonstrating people’s valid consent had been obtained for various matters relating to the care and support they received.

Staff demonstrated an understanding of people’s life histories and current circumstances and supported people to meet their individual needs in a caring way.

People using the service and their relatives were involved in decisions about their care and how their needs were met. People had care plans in place that reflected their assessed needs.

Recruitment procedures ensured that only staff who were suitable, worked within the service. There was an induction programme for new staff, which prepared them for their role. Staff were provided with appropriate training to help them carry out their duties. Staff received regular supervision. There were enough staff employed to meet people’s needs.

People were supported to maintain a balanced, nutritious diet. People were supported effectively with their health needs and were supported to access a range of healthcare professionals.

People using the service and staff felt able to speak with the registered manager and provided feedback on the service. They knew how to make complaints and there was a complaints policy and procedure in place.

The organisation had adequate systems in place to monitor the quality of the service. The registered manager reviewed all care records and daily notes completed by care workers. We saw evidence that feedback was obtained by people using the service and the results of this was positive.