This was Orion House first inspection since registering with the Care Quality Commission. We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 12 January 2019.

Orion House provides care for people with a learning disability and associated conditions such as autism. On the day of our inspection there were 5 people living at the service.

People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

There was a registered manager in post who was also a joint owner. 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.

We checked the service was working in line with ‘Registering the Right Support’, which makes sure services for people with a learning disability and/or autism receive services are developed in line with national policy - including the national plan, building the right support - and best practice. For example, how the service ensured care was personalised, how people’s discharge if needed, was managed and people’s independence and links with their community.

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.

We met and spoke to four people during our visit, one person was away for the weekend. However, people who lived at Orion House had some communication difficulties due to their learning disability and associated conditions, such as autism. Therefore, they were not able to tell us verbally about all their experience of living there. We spent short periods of time with people seeing how they spent their day and observing the interactions between people and the staff supporting them. One relative who provided feedback said; “He has always been very happy and they have encouraged him to grow and develop.”

People’s medicines were managed safely. Medicines were stored, given to people as prescribed and disposed of safely. Staff received appropriate training and understood the importance of safe administration and management of medicines.

People who required it had two to one or one to one staffing at certain times. Staff confirmed there were sufficient numbers of staff to meet people’s needs and to help keep them safe. Staff were recruited safely and checks carried out with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) ensured they were suitable to work with vulnerable adults.

Staff had completed safeguarding training and further updates were arranged. Staff had a good knowledge of what constituted abuse and how to report any concerns. Staff understood what action they would take to protect people against harm and were confident any incidents or allegations would be fully investigated. Staff confirmed they’d have no hesitation reporting any issues to the registered manager.

All significant events and incidences were document and analysed. Evaluation of incidents was used to help make improvements and keep people safe. Improvements helped to ensure positive progress was made in the delivery of care and support provided by the staff. Feedback to assess the quality of the service provided was sought from people living in the home, relatives, professionals and staff.

Staff had completed appropriate training and had the right skills and knowledge to meet people’s needs. New staff completed an Induction programme when they started work and staff competency was assessed. Staff also completed t