Mineral Cottage is registered to provide care for six people with complex learning needs and is located in Leeds. It is accessible by public transport and is near local amenities.

At the time of our unannounced inspection on 14 December 2018, there were six people living in the service. 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.

There was a registered manager in place. 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.

At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

People ‘s care and support was planned proactively in partnership with them. Staff used individual ways of involving people and people took a key role in the local community and had opportunity to access education and work. People were supported in a way that promoted an enhanced sense of well-being. They had facilities and support available to them to help them live as fulfilling a life as possible

People had opportunities to take part in activities that reflected their interests and preferences. People told us how much they enjoyed living at Mineral Cottage Residential Home Limited, spending time with their family and being given opportunities to learn and to work.

People were supported by sufficient numbers of appropriately skilled staff to meet their needs and keep them safe. Staff understood their responsibilities in safeguarding people from abuse and knew how to report any concerns they had. Staff were recruited in a safe way, although not all documentation was recorded as per the provider’s policies. We made a recommendation around adapting the provider’s policies to show the current process being used.

Risks to people’s safety were identified and action taken to keep people as safe as possible. Accidents and incidents were reviewed and measures implemented to reduce the risk of them happening again.

People lived in a service or environment which was clean and hygienic and both people who self-medicated and those who did not, received their medicines safely and as prescribed. We made a recommendation around monitoring the temperature of the medicines storage area.

People’s needs had been assessed before they moved into the service to ensure staff could provide the support they required. Staff had the training and support they needed to carry out their roles effectively. All staff attended an induction when they started work and had access to ongoing training.

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.

People could make choices about the food they ate and were supported to maintain a healthy diet. People were supported to maintain good health and to obtain treatment when they needed it. Each person had a health action plan which detailed their health needs and the support they needed. Staff worked with external organisations and professionals to help provide the most effective care to people.

The home provided bright and spacious accommodation with access to outside space. People had been encouraged to choose the décor and were a

This was an unannounced inspection carried out on 06 June 2016. At the last inspection in January 2015 we found the provider had a breach in one regulation associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008. We concluded that appropriate arrangements were not fully in place in relation to the recording and administration of medicines.

We told the provider they needed to take action and we received a report setting out the action they would take to meet the regulations. At this inspection we found improvements had been made with regard to this breach.

Mineral Cottage is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to six people who have learning disabilities.

At the time of this inspection the home had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has a 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 a good understanding of safeguarding vulnerable adults and knew what to do to keep people safe. Risk was well managed and were the least restrictive for people. There were enough staff to keep people safe.

People received their prescribed medication when they needed it and appropriate arrangements were in place for the storage and disposal of medicines. Staff were trained in medicines management.

People’s needs were met by staff who had the right skills, competencies and knowledge. Systems were in place to support staff to do their job well formal supervisions were in place. However appraisals had not been completed by the service. The registered manager had an action plan in place with all staff to be completed this year. Staff confirmed this and this was evidenced throughout the inspection.

Health, care and support needs were assessed and met by regular contact with health professionals. People were supported by staff who treated them with kindness and were respectful of their privacy and dignity.

People told us they were happy living at the home and enjoyed the company of staff and others they lived with. People were supported to make decisions and received consistent, person centred care and support. They received good support that ensured their health care needs were met.

The service had good management and leadership. People got opportunity to comment on the quality of service and influence service delivery. Effective systems were in place that ensured people received safe quality care.

This was an unannounced inspection carried out on the 19 January 2015. At the last inspection in August 2013 we found the provider met the regulations we looked at.

Mineral Cottage is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to six people who have learning disabilities.

At the time of this inspection the home 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 and didn’t have any concerns about the care they received. However, there was a risk to people’s safety because medicines were not always managed consistently and safely. Staff had a good understanding of safeguarding vulnerable adults and knew what to do to keep people safe. Risk was well managed and people also had the most freedom possible. There were enough staff to keep people safe.

People’s needs were met by staff who had the right skills, competencies and knowledge. Systems were in place to support staff to do their job well although formal supervisions and appraisals were not always carried out as often as agreed.

People told us they were happy living at the home and enjoyed the company of staff and others they lived with. People were supported to make decisions and received consistent, person centred care and support. They received good support that ensured their health care needs were met.

The service had good management and leadership. People got opportunity to comment on the quality of service and influence service delivery. Effective systems were in place that ensured people received safe quality care.

We found the home was in breach of regulation of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.

We visited the service on 7 August 2013 as part of our scheduled inspection programme.

We found where people did not have the capacity to consent, the provider acted in accordance with legal requirements. One person told us that staff provided them with “enough information” to make their own decisions.

People who used the service told us that overall they were happy living at the home. Their comments included, “It’s nice here” and “I like living here. I like the staff.” There were various activities on offer for people living at the home.

We spoke with two relatives and they confirmed they were satisfied with the care provided.

Appropriate arrangements were in place for the recording, handling, safekeeping, dispensing and safe administration of medicines.

Our conversations with people, relatives and staff, together with observations on the day of our inspection evidenced there were enough staff on duty. We found staff working in the home were appropriately qualified to do their jobs.

The provider had an effective system in place to identify, assess and manage risks to the health, safety and welfare of people who used the service and others.

We met and spoke with two of the six people who lived at Mineral Cottage. They both said they were happy living in the home. One person said; “It’s my home.” They showed us their room and told us how it was their choice of colour scheme and bedding.

We saw that people were offered choice and staff respected their privacy and dignity while encouraging them to be as independent as possible. When we asked one person if they liked living in the home they said; “I like it here.” Another person said; “They are all nice.”

There was evidence that people took part in a very wide range of activities in the community, as well as within the home along with being involved in everyday tasks like shopping, cleaning and preparing meals.

Two people who use the service were at home when we visited. One person talked to us about making decisions and choices. They told us they choose when to get up and when to go to bed. They showed us the menu/food book which had pictures of different meals, and said everyone chooses what they want to eat. Staff confirmed that they hold a house meeting every week and plan the menu.

We observed the care being given to people as part of this review and saw staff centre the care on each individual. Staff interaction was good and it was clear they knew the people they were supporting very well. People went out for lunch, which they said is a regular activity. One person told us they usually go out every day with staff and recently had been shopping in Leeds, out for meals, played pool at the pub and various evening activities.

Staff told us people’s rights, choices and independence are promoted. They discussed how they make sure people’s privacy and dignity are respected. Staff said any decisions that were made on behalf of people are always done through a consultation process which involved other professionals and representatives. One member of staff said, “People receive a good service. They’re well looked after, do lots of activities, get to choose and have a good environment. Independence is promoted as far as people can manage.”

Staff told us people received good care. They said people get good support with their healthcare needs and other professionals were consulted when needed. Care records confirmed that people had regular contact with health and other professionals. One member of staff said, “People’s needs are very well met. It’s the best place I’ve ever worked. We always have enough time to provide care and do it well.”

The registered manager discussed different measures they have in place to check that systems are working properly. She said they do regular checks to make sure they monitor the quality of service provision.