We carried out an unannounced inspection on 11 May 2017. The service provides care and support for up to seven people who have a learning disability and may also have physical disabilities or are living with dementia.

At the time of the inspection, there were seven people being supported by the service. There was a registered manager in post, who was also the provider of the service. 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 safe and the provider had effective systems in place to safeguard them. There were risk assessments in place that gave guidance to the staff on how risks to people could be minimised. People’s medicines were managed safely and administered in a timely manner.

The provider had effective recruitment processes in place and there was sufficient staff to support people safely. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Staff had supervision, support and effective training that enabled them to support people well.

People were supported to have sufficient food and drinks and were supported in a caring and respectful manner. They were also supported to access other health and social care services when required.

People’s needs had been assessed, and care plans took account of people’s individual needs, preferences, and choices.

People were supported to pursue their hobbies and interests.

The provider had a formal process for handling complaints and concerns. They encouraged feedback from people or their representatives, and acted on the comments received to improve the quality of the service.

The registered manager provided stable leadership and managerial oversight to staff who felt supported in their roles.

The provider’s quality monitoring processes had been used effectively to drive improvements.

We carried out an unannounced inspection on 16 April 2015.

The service provides care and support for up to seven people who have a learning disability and may also have physical disabilities or are living with dementia. At the time of the inspection, there were seven people being supported by the service.

There was a registered manager in post, who was also the provider of the service. 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 safe and the provider had effective systems in place to safeguard them.

There were risk assessments in place that gave guidance to the staff on how risks to people could be minimised.

People’s medicines were managed safely and administered in a timely manner.

The provider had effective recruitment processes in place and there was sufficient staff to support people safely. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).

Staff had supervision, support and effective training that enabled them to support people well.

People were supported to have sufficient food and drinks in a caring and respectful manner. They were also supported to access other health and social care services when required.

People’s needs had been assessed, and care plans took account of people’s individual needs, preferences, and choices.

People were supported to pursue their hobbies and interests.

The provider had a formal process for handling complaints and concerns. They encouraged feedback from people or their representatives, and acted on the comments received to improve the quality of the service.

The registered manager provided stable leadership and managerial oversight. They were a role model for the behaviours, values and standards of care they expected of others.

The provider’s quality monitoring processes had been used effectively to drive improvements.

When we inspected Oakley Lodge Nursing Home on 5 December 2013, we found a relaxed and caring environment, where people were supported by staff who were trained, knowledgeable and responsive to their needs. We used different methods, including observation to help us understand the experiences of people who used the service. This is because some of the people had complex needs which meant they were not able to communicate verbally.

We looked at the care records for four of the six people who used the service. We found people's needs had been assessed, and appropriate support plans and risk assessments were in place. Theywere reviewed regularly to reflect people's changing needs. Although most people were unable to give informed consent, we found they were supported in a way that promoted their rights.

People's nutritional needs were met and their food preferences respected. Appropriate systems were in place to support a person who required percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) feeding.

When we visited Oakley Lodge Care Home on 13 December 2012, we used different methods including observation to help us understand the experiences of people using the service, because some of the people using the service had complex needs which meant they were not able to communicate verbally. We also reviewed the care records of five of the six people living at the home.

We saw that people were offered support at a level which encouraged their independence and ensured that individual needs were met. The atmosphere within the home was relaxed which meant that people were at ease in the presence of the staff supporting them. We observed that staff were polite and respectful in their approach to people and observant to the needs of the people they were supporting. There was evidence of people working together with staff in decorating the home for the Christmas period.

During our visit, we noted that people were involved in planning their care and made decisions about how they spent their free time. People were supported to leave the home to go shopping and were encouraged to participate in other activities within the home. One person said, "I'm happy here, I like my room and I like the staff." A relative told us, "I'm really pleased that she (speaking about the person using the service) came here, I have no complaints at all."

Some of the people that we met during our visit on 09 December 2011 did not use words to communicate; so we spent some time observing the support being provided to them.

At lunch time, we observed staff sitting alongside people, whilst they helped them with their meals. Assistance was provided at a relaxed pace, and people's dignity was maintained.

We noted that staff were patient and kind and understood the needs of the people that they were supporting.

People told us that they were happy and that they liked the staff.

The atmosphere in the home during our visit was quiet, calm and relaxed.