This inspection was unannounced and took place on 9 February 2017. The service was registered to provide accommodation for up to 12 people and at the time of our inspection, 10 people with learning disabilities were using the service.

There was a registered manager in post. 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 were supported to make decisions about their care. However, when people were not able to make specific decisions about their support, the provider had not followed the guidance available to them. We have made a recommendation about working in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act.

People were safe receiving support from staff who had the knowledge and skills needed to protect them from harm and abuse. Risks to people were assessed and managed to keep them safe at home and in the community. There were enough staff available to meet people’s needs and the provider had safe recruitment processes in place. People were supported to have their medicines safely and as prescribed.

Staff were equipped with the knowledge and skills to carry out their roles. People received food and drink that met their nutritional needs and were referred to other healthcare professionals to maintain their health and wellbeing.

People were supported by staff who were caring and kind. Staff understood how people communicated so they had control in their lives. Their independence was promoted and their dignity and privacy respected. Relationships were maintained and families were able to visit when they chose.

People were involved in the planning and reviewing of their support, and their care was individual to them. They were supported to take part in activities they enjoyed. People knew how to raise concerns and were encouraged to give feedback about the support they received.

There was a positive, open culture within the service. Staff felt supported by the management team and people found them approachable. People and staff were involved in making decisions about the service. The registered manager had systems in place to monitor the quality of the service and they used these to drive continuous improvement.

The inspection took place on 9 December 2014 and was unannounced.

The home provides accommodation and personal care for up to 12 people with a learning disability. At the time of our inspection 12 people were living at the home.

The home had a registered manager in post. 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 who lived at the home told us they felt safe. Staff were aware of the actions they should take if they had concerns regarding the safety of people.

Risk assessments were in place which supported people to remain safe whilst remaining as independent as possible.

Staffing levels were adequate to support people with their daily choices and options.

Recruitment procedures were in place to ensure suitable people were employed. New staff go through a period of induction before working alone.

People’s medicines were managed safely; staff were knowledgeable and supported people with their medication as required.

Staff had an understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2008 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Arrangements were made when people required support with decision making.

People told us they liked the food and they were involved with menu planning.

People’s health care needs were met. Records showed that people were supported to see a health care professional when they became unwell or their needs changed.

People told us they had decorated and furnished their bedrooms to their individual preferences.

People’s independence was respected and they were encouraged and supported to continue to pursue their hobbies and interests.

Resident and staff meetings took place on a regular basis. Minutes were recorded and we saw examples of where action had been taken when suggestions had been made at the residents’ meetings.

Staff told us they felt well supported by the management and worked well as a team.

The safety and quality of the home was regularly checked and improvements made when necessary.

We carried out this inspection to check on the care and welfare of people using this service. The visit was unannounced which meant the provider and the staff did not know we were coming.

Staff supported people to go out and do the things they enjoyed. People told us, “We’re always busy either doing things here at home or going out. We all like going out to eat and some people go to college or to clubs.”

We saw that people using the service were encouraged to be independent and they told us they were responsible for looking after and tidying their rooms. People told us they helped with cooking, and making drinks, and we saw people helping with domestic chores and preparing lunch during our inspection.

We saw people received the care and support that met their individual needs. People had care records which informed staff of how people wanted to be supported.

People told us they felt safe living at the home and would talk to staff or their family if they had any concerns. People told us that they knew how to complain if they were unhappy but had not needed to do this.

People told us they were involved in planning and making decisions about their care. People were supported to decide the things they wanted to do and how they spent their time. They took part in meetings to talk about aspects of running the service including what they wanted to eat and activities they wanted to do. People's independence was promoted. People went out shopping, they helped to prepare meals and helped to keep their bedroom tidy.

People were happy living at the home. Comments included, "It is my home" and "I like it here. I would recommend it". People were supported to have their health and social care needs met.They had chances to take part in educational and social activities.

People told us they felt safe living at the home. Care staff were trained in adult abuse and were aware of signs of abuse and how to act upon any concerns they had.

The provider had an effective recruitment process in place to make sure that care staff were suitable to work with the people that lived at the home. The provider made all the required checks before people started work.

People felt able to raise complaints and felt that they were acted upon. The provider had a complaints procedure and this was available in an easy read format.