Our inspection was unannounced and took place on 11 July 2017.

At our last inspection in February 2015 the service was rated as good in all of the five questions we ask: ‘Is the service safe?’:Is the service effective?: Is the service caring?: Is the service responsive? and, Is the service well-led?

The home is registered to provide accommodation and personal care to a maximum of seven people. On the day of our inspection four people lived at the home. People lived with a range of conditions the majority of which related to learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder.

The manager was registered with us and was present on the day. 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 knew who the registered manager was and they were visible within the service. Overall, quality monitoring processes, the use of provider feedback forms and meetings helped to ensure that service was being run in the best interests of the people who lived there. However, the provider had not taken action to maintain the premises to a reasonable standard and checks on the hot water supply had not been adequate to identify that hot water was not consistently available.

People told us that they felt safe. Systems were in place to prevent people from the risk of harm and abuse. One staff member to one person staffing levels ensured that there were enough staff to meet people’s needs. Safe recruitment systems were in place to prevent the possibility of unsuitable staff being employed. Medicines were managed safely and in a way that ensured that people could take their medicines as they had been prescribed.

Staff were provided with the training that they required to ensure that they had the skills and knowledge to provide safe and appropriate care to people. Staff confirmed that they were adequately supported in their job roles. People received care in line with their best interests and processes were in place to ensure they were not restricted unlawfully. People were supported to have the food and drink that they enjoyed.

Relationships between staff and the people who lived at the home were positive. Staff were friendly, polite and helpful to people. People were encouraged to make everyday choices and they were supported to enhance and maintain their independence and daily living skills.

People needs were reviewed regularly to ensure that they could be met. The complaints system was well managed and was available for people and their relatives to use. A varied range of activities were available each day for people to engage in.

This was an announced inspection, which took place on 10 February 2015. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location was a small care home for younger adults who are often out during the day; we needed to be sure that someone would be in.

The service provides personal care and accommodation for seven people, with a learning disability. However, the provider has chosen to only accommodate three people.

There was no 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 spoken with told us that they were safe. Staff knew how to reduce the risk of harm to people from abuse and unsafe practice, and had received appropriate training to help them to keep people safe. The risk of harm to people receiving a service was assessed and managed appropriately; this ensured that people received care and support in a safe way. Where people required support with taking their medication, there were procedures in place to ensure this was done safely and people told us they received their medication as prescribed by their doctor.

People and staff spoken with said there were sufficient numbers of staff available to meet people’s needs. People and a relative spoken with felt the staff were trained and knew people’s needs well. Staff were suitably recruited, trained and supported to ensure they cared for people well.

Staff were caring and treated people with respect and dignity. People’s involvement and independence was respected and promoted. People’s health and personal care needs were met and they were able to choose what they ate and drank. People could speak with care staff and senior managers about their concerns. No one had raised any concerns or complaints about the care they received.

Everyone spoken with felt that the quality of the service was good and that the service was well managed. Staff were open and receptive to ideas about how they could improve people’s care. The provider had internal quality assurance systems to monitor the care and support people received, to ensure it was of good standard.

During the inspection we spoke with all three people that lived at the home, the manager and one care staff. People that lived at the home couldn’t have lengthy conversations with us, so we spend some time observing how they were treated by staff.

We saw that people were able to make choices about their daily activities and staff obtained their consent and agreement before undertaking any activities with them. One member of staff told us, “We sit down with each person on a weekly basis and we talk with them about what they want to do."

People told us that they liked living at the home and we saw that people were comfortable and happy in their environment and were supported to live independent lives. One person told us, “I am going on holiday to Spain and me and X are going shopping for clothes.” Another person told us, “I am going to have my hair cut.”

People told us that they got their medicines when needed. We saw that the provider had appropriate arrangements in place to manage medicines.

We saw that people received a good quality service and that the provider had an effective system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service that people receive.

We saw that people were comfortable with the staff and could talk to them about things. We found that there was an effective complaints system available.

There were three people living at the home at the time of our inspection. During the inspection we spoke with all three people living at the home, he manager and two of the support workers on duty.

People told us that they were able to make choices about their daily living. We saw that people living at the home were able to maintain their independence and were involved in community activities.

People told us that they liked living at the home. One person told us,” I like living here and like going out with a carer on the bus.” We saw that people’s needs were being met in a safe way.

People told us if they were worried about anything they would tell the staff. We saw that systems were in place to ensure that people were safeguarded from abuse.

People told us that they liked the staff that supported them. One person said, “I like the staff they are nice.” We found that staff were trained and supported to deliver care and treatment safely and to an appropriate standard.

We saw that people were receiving a quality service that met their needs. We found that the provider had systems in place to monitor the quality of the service provided to ensure that people’s needs were met in a safe way.