This unannounced inspection took place on 6 February 2017. The service was last inspected on 23 July 2015 when we found one breach of regulation relating to systems being not always effective and staff morale being low. During this inspection we found these had been addressed and improvements made to the service.

Lily Close provides accommodation and support with personal care for 10 people with a learning disability. At the time of the inspection there were two people using the service.

The service did not have a registered manager. However, the provider had employed a new manager who has applied for registration. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (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.

We found people were relaxed, well presented and there was an inclusive atmosphere in the service. Staff were patient, friendly, kind and treated people with respect and dignity. The home was clean, bright and spacious, and people could access communal areas.

There was a recruitment process in place which ensured that staff were appropriately checked and supported to meet people's needs. We noted staff were supervised and supported to complete training programmes related to their roles. There were enough staff deployed to support people.

People's care plans were regularly reviewed and it was evident that people, their relatives and advocates were involved. Staff ensured people's human rights and worked within the principles of Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLs). Staff had good adult safeguarding knowledge and how to support people to live as independently as possible by completing task by themselves, when possible, and by accessing community based facilities.

There were systems in place for monitoring and auditing the quality and health and safety of the service. These ensured that people, relatives and staff views about the quality of the service were sought and any concerns or incidents were identified and action put in place to address them.

The inspection was unannounced and took place on 23 July 2015. This was the first inspection since the service changed ownership in September 2014.

Lily Close provides accommodation and support with personal care for up to ten people with a learning disability in three self-contained bungalows. On the day of our visit there were four people using the service and we were told and saw evidence that two other people used the respite service at weekends.

The service had a registered manager. 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 they felt safe. Staff were aware of the procedure to follow in order to report any allegations of abuse.

Medicines were stored, ordered and managed safely. There were risk assessments to safeguard people from harm.

There were enough staff to meet people’s needs. Recruitment procedures were followed to ensure that only staff that were suitable were employed. Staff were supported by annual appraisals and training. However team meetings and supervisions were inconsistent.

We observed that people were treated with dignity and respect. People spoke fondly of staff and referred to them by name. Staff were aware of people’s preferences and gave each person one to one attention at various intervals during the day. People were supported to participate in activities of their choice and to maintain contact with their family and friends.

There was a complaints procedure in a pictorial format that was understood by people who used the service.

People’s records reflected their current needs, goals and aspirations. Care plans were person centred with risks and support plans in a pictorial format that could easily be understood by people using the service.

People were lawfully deprived of their liberty when it was in their best interests to do so. Staff were knowledgeable about the Mental Capacity Act 2005. They had attended training on the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

There were systems to monitor the quality of care delivered and to ensure that feedback from people and their relatives was sought and acted upon. Staff thought the registered manager was approachable. However we found that at times the registered manager was not able to complete appraisals and supervision in a timely manner as they were usually rostered to work as part of the daily staffing leaving little time to complete relevant paperwork. We have made a recommendation about motivating staff and allocating resources to ensure sufficient protected time is available to carry out managerial duties.

We found one breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we have told the provider to take at the back of the full version of this report.