The inspection took place on the 4 January 2018 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because we wanted to be sure that people would be in to speak with us.

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. L'Arche Bognor Regis Jericho provides support and accommodation for a maximum of six adults with a variety of learning disabilities. These include Down’s syndrome and autism . At the time of this inspection there were six people living at the service, all of whom were able to communicate verbally and independently. People’s levels of support varied; with some people requiring support with personal care whilst others needed emotional support and were independent in other aspects of their lives.

L'Arche Bognor Regis Jericho is part of an ecumenical Christian community which welcomes people of all faiths and those who have none. The community has a cycle of events throughout the year that provide a focus for spiritual development. These include an annual pilgrimage, monthly community gatherings, days of reflection and occasional retreats and gatherings. People who live and receive a service at L’Arche Bognor Regis Jericho are known as ‘core members’ and staff as ‘assistants’. Most assistants live in the service alongside the core members.

At the last inspection on 27 April 2015, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

People and relatives told us they felt the service was safe. People remained protected from the risk of abuse because staff understood how to identify and report it. One person said “I feel safe and if I didn’t I would speak to someone”.

The provider had arrangements in place for the safe ordering, administration, storage and disposal of medicines. People were supported to get their medicine safely when they needed it. People were supported to maintain good health and had access to health care services.

Staff considered peoples capacity using the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) as guidance. People’s capacity to make decisions had been assessed. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. The provider was meeting the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).

People felt there was enough staff to meet their needs and felt staff were skilled to meet the needs of people and provide effective care. A relative told us “The staff always do very well at meeting the needs of everyone at L'Arche”.

Staff were given training updates, supervision and development opportunities. Staff spoke positively about training and supervisions they received from management and commented on how they found they could ask questions freely. One member of staff told us “We have a good knowledgeable manager who is very caring and committed”.

People’s nutritional needs were met and people reported that they had a good choice of food and drink. Weekly menus were discussed at a house meeting each Sunday. One person told us they liked to help in the kitchen and with evening meals and said “I help do dinner and helped with breakfast this morning”.

People’s individual needs continued to be assessed and detailed care plans were developed to identify what care and support they required. People were consulted about their care to ensure wishes and preferences were met. Staff worked with other healthcare professionals to obtain specialist advice about people’s care and treatment.

Quality assurance audits completed by the registered manager and provider were embedded to ensure a good level of quality was maintained. We saw

We were unable to speak with people as they were all spending time with their families except one. However we observed the staff interacting with this person and noted their reactions carefully because they were unable to communicate with us verbally.

We saw that staff treated this person with gentleness and consideration whilst promoting their choice. This approach by staff in general was confirmed by our review of people's records.

We saw that staff interacted well with people when they were supporting them and were knowledgeable about people's needs and preferences. We found staff were respectful and maintained people's dignity, privacy and independence. We saw that activities were provided to suit individual needs.

We were shown examples of person centred care records which were well organised into separate sections. This provided clarity for staff. These had been developed for each individual and documented their wishes and preferences in relation to how their care was provided and were presented in a form that assisted people to understand what they said. A relative's assistance was sought with this where the person was unable to fully contribute themselves.

Equality and diversity had been considered in the service by looking at each individual's needs. Any equipment or adaptations needed were provided.

We were informed that there were six people living at Jericho and that four members of staff also lived in the home. On the day we visited all the people were out for the day attending workshop activities and working in the gardens ran by L’Arche. In order to gain the views of the people who live at Jericho we looked through minuets of the home meetings. We also looked at the care plans of the people who lived at the home and other documentation.

Jericho was part of the L’Arche community in Bognor Regis. L’Arche also provided day services for people to attend. We were informed that these included working in the gardens growing vegetables and plants, arts and crafts, music and drama

During our visit we spoke with three members of staff including the house leader who was responsible for the day to day management of the home. We visited the Sycamore Day Centre and later in the day observed people when they returned from the day activities. Due to communication difficulties we were not able to speak to some of the people; however two of the people did briefly introduce themselves. People in the home looked happy and we saw staff treating people in a sensitive, respectful and professional manner.

We looked around the building which was clean and free from unpleasant odours. The bedrooms were personalised with photographs, books, computers and pictures.

People told us that they like living at the home. Comments made by people included: ‘I am happy here. I like it because it is peaceful.’ Another person said, ‘It’s good. It’s my home. It makes me happy.’

People told us that they feel safe at the home and that there are enough staff on duty. People also told us that they enjoy a wide range of activities including a recent holiday in Liverpool and Ireland, as well as attending work, gardening in the home’s garden and going to social events. People said that there are house meetings on Mondays when they can discuss and contribute to decisions about holidays, food and daily routines. We were also that people have reviews of their care.

This was an unannounced inspection which took place on 27 April 2015. We also arranged to visit the home on the 30 April 2015 in order to meet and spend time with the people who lived there as they were all out in the community on the first day of our inspection.

L'Arche Bognor Regis Jericho provides support and accommodation for a maximum of six adults with a variety of learning disabilities. These include Down’s syndrome, autism and Asperger syndrome. At the time of this inspection there were six people living at the home, five of whom were able to communicate verbally and independently. People’s levels of support varied; with some people requiring support with personal care whilst others needed emotional support and were independent in other aspects of their lives.

L'Arche Bognor Regis Jericho is part of an ecumenical Christian community which welcomes people of all faiths and those who have none. The community has a cycle of events throughout the year that provide a focus for spiritual development. These include an annual pilgrimage, monthly community gatherings, days of reflection and occasional retreats and gatherings. People who live and receive a service at L’Arche Bognor Regis Jericho are known as ‘core members’ and staff as ‘assistants’. Most assistants live in the home alongside the core members.

During the first day of our inspection the registered manager was present. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The registered manager of L'Arche Bognor Regis Jericho is also the registered manager of another three services of the provider and shares her time between all three. In the registered manager’s absence the home is managed by a house leader. The house leader was not present during our inspection.

Quality assurance audits were completed which helped ensure quality standards were maintained and legislation complied with. Evidence of actions taken to address shortfalls was in place. However further improvements to the quality of, and storage of records is recommended.

Staff were kind and caring. Most staff were attentive to people and we saw, in the main, high levels of engagement with them. Most staff knew what people could do for themselves and areas where support was needed.

The service had good systems in place to keep people safe. Accidents and incidents were acted upon and reviewed to prevent or minimise re-occurrence. People told us they felt safe. Staff were aware of their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding. The registered manager was clear about when to report concerns and the processes to be followed in order to keep people safe.

People were able to make choices, to take control of their lives and be supported to increase their independent living skills. Risk assessments and support plans were in place that considered potential risks to people. Strategies to minimise these risks were recorded and acted upon. People were safely supported to manage their medicines, to access healthcare services and to maintain good health.

There were enough staff on duty to meet people’s needs. Appropriate recruitment checks were completed to ensure staff were safe to support people. Staff were sufficiently skilled and experienced to effectively care for people so that they have a good quality of life. People told us that they were happy with the support they received from staff. Staff received training, supervision and appraisal that helped them to undertake their roles and to meet the needs of people.

L'Arche Bognor Regis Jericho met Mental Capacity Act 2005 legislation and associated requirements under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and people confirmed that they had consented to the care they received.

People were supported to express their views and to be actively involved in making decisions about their care and support. Staff knew each person’s individual needs, traits and personalities. People were supported to access and maintain links with their local community. The importance of community links and social inclusion was reinforced in peoples support plans. Support plans were in place that provided detailed information for staff on how to deliver people’s care.

The registered manager encouraged people to work collaboratively to provide a holistic approach. Care was personalised and empowering, enabling people to take control of their lives and make decisions and choices. The manager was committed to providing a good service that benefited everyone. The vision and values of the service were known by everyone and embedded at L'Arche Bognor Regis Jericho. As a result, relationships and spirituality flourished.

Regular meetings were held with people, staff and relatives and friends of people which encouraged open and transparent communications between them and management. People were routinely listened to and their comments acted upon. Regular meetings took place where people could raise issues and a pictorial complaints procedure was in place that supported people to understand formal complaint processes.