The inspection took place on 12 January 2017, and was an announced inspection. The registered provider was given 24 hours' notice of the inspection. This was so that we could be sure that staff and people would be at home for our visit. This was the first inspection of this service since it registered on 19 May 2014.

Lyndhurst House is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to four people who have a learning disability. Lyndhurst House is in the village of Charing, on the outskirts of Ashford. At the time of the inspection, one person lived at the home all of the time and two people lived there at weekends; each had their own, personalised bedrooms. People had access to a communal lounge, dining room, kitchen, laundry room and shared bathrooms. There is a well maintained garden and outside area.

The service has a registered manager, who was present throughout the 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The Care Quality Commission is required by law to monitor the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. The registered manager and staff showed that they understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). The people at the service had been assessed as lacking mental capacity to make complex decisions about their care and welfare. At the time of the inspection the registered manager had made the appropriate applications for DoLS authorisations for people who were at risk of having their liberty restricted. There were records to show who people’s representatives were, in order to act on their behalf if complex decisions were needed about their care and treatment.

Before people moved into the service their support needs were assessed by the registered manager to make sure the service would be able to offer them the care that they needed. The care and support needs of each person were different, and each person’s care plan was personal to them. People had detailed care plans, risk assessments and guidance in place to help staff to support them in an individual way.

Staff encouraged people to be involved and feel included in their environment. People were offered varied activities and participated in social activities of their choice. Staff spoke about people in a respectful way which demonstrated that they cared about people’s welfare. Staff knew people and their support needs well.

Staff were caring, kind and respected people’s privacy and dignity. There were positive and caring interactions between the staff and people and people were comfortable and at ease with the staff.

People were encouraged to eat and drink enough and were offered choices around their meals and hydration needs. People were supported to make their own drinks when they wanted to. Staff understood people’s likes, dislikes and dietary requirements and promoted people to eat a healthy diet.

People received their medicines safely and when they needed them. If people were unwell or their health was deteriorating the staff contacted their doctors or specialist services. People’s medicines were reviewed regularly by their doctor to make sure they were still suitable. People were supported to maintain good health and attended appointments and check-ups. Health needs were kept under review and appropriate referrals were made when required.

A system to recruit new staff was in place. This was to make sure that the staff employed to support people were fit to do so. There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty throughout the day and night to make sure people were safe and received the care and support that they needed.

Staff had completed induction training when