This inspection visit took place on 14 February 2017 and was announced. We gave the registered provider 24 hours’ notice to ensure someone would be available at the service. We spoke with relatives via telephone on 24 February 2017.

Redlands is a home for up to five people who have a learning disability and it is situated in Darlington close to all facilities and transport links.

The service had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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 last inspected the service in 8 January 2015 and rated the service as ‘Good.’ At this inspection we found the service remained ‘Good’ and met all the fundamental standards we inspected against.

Staffing was provided at safe levels and any staff absences were covered by the registered provider’s own permanent and bank staff.

Accidents and incidents had been appropriately recorded and risk assessments were in place for people who used the service and staff.

We found that safe recruitment and selection procedures were in place and appropriate checks had been undertaken before staff began work. This included obtaining references from previous employers to show staff employed were safe to work with vulnerable people.

One person and relatives we spoke with told us they felt safe at Redlands. Staff were aware of procedures to follow if they observed any concerns.

Appropriate systems were in place for the management of medicines so that people received their medicines safely. Medicines were stored in a safe manner.

Staff were suitably trained and training was arranged for any due refresher training. Staff received regular supervisions and appraisals and told us they felt supported.

The registered provider was working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). 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 were protected from the risk of poor nutrition and staff were aware of people’s nutritional needs. Care records contained evidence of visits to and from external healthcare specialists.

Care records showed that people’s needs were assessed before they started using the service, they were supported to transition to the service at their own pace and care plans were written in a person centred way.

Staff supported people who used the service with their social needs. We observed that all staff were very caring in their interactions with people at the service. People clearly felt very comfortable with staff members and there was a warm and positive atmosphere in the service and people were very relaxed. We saw people being treated with dignity and respect and relatives and people told us that staff were kind and professional.

People who used the service and family members were aware of how to make a complaint.

Staff felt supported by the registered manager and were comfortable raising any concerns. People who used the service, family members and staff were regularly consulted about the quality of the service.

The service had a comprehensive range of audits in place to check the quality and safety of the service and equipment at Redlands and actions plans and lessons learnt were part of their on-going quality review of the service.

The inspection visit took place on the 8th January 2015. This was an unannounced inspection which meant that the staff and provider did not know that we would be visiting.

We last inspected the service on 17th December 2013 and found the service was not in breach of any regulations at that time.

Redlands provides care and support for up to five people who have a learning disability. The home does not provide nursing care. The detached house is situated in Darlington, close to all amenities and transport links.

There is 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.

There were policies and procedures in place in relation to the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivations of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). The registered manager had the appropriate knowledge to know how to apply the MCA and when an application should be made and how to submit one. This meant people were safeguarded.

We saw that staff were recruited safely and were given appropriate training before they commenced employment. Staff had also received more specific training in managing the needs of people who used the service such as epilepsy and Makaton (the use of signs to help people communicate). There were sufficient staff on duty to meet the needs of the people and the staff team were supportive of the manager and of each other. Medicines were also stored and administered in a safe manner.

There was a regular programme of staff supervision in place and records of these were detailed and showed the home worked with staff to identify their personal and professional development.

We saw people’s care plans were person centred and had been well assessed. The home had developed easy read care plans to help people be involved in how they wanted their care and support to be delivered. We saw people were being given choices and encouraged to take part in all aspects of day to day life at the home, from going to work placements to helping to make the evening meal. One person had very recently transitioned into the home and we saw this had been planned and assessed so it was as smooth as possible.

The service encouraged people to maintain their independence. People were supported to be involved in the local community as much as possible and were supported to independently use public transport and accessing regular facilities such as the local G.P, shops and leisure facilities.

We also saw a regular programme of staff meetings where issues where shared and raised. The service had an easy read complaints procedure and staff told us how they could recognise if someone was unhappy. This showed the service listened to the views of people.

Staff had a positive attitude and we saw good interaction with people who were being

supported to undertake various activities. One person told us; “I like going out”.

Currently there were only two people living at the service although a former resident was being supported to return after a period in hospital. Staff told us they received training, supervision and appraisal on a regular basis.

There were systems in place for checking the safety and quality of the service. We saw that people living at the home were fully involved in the planning and cooking of meals and they were encouraged to be as independent as possible in the kitchen.

Records were held securely and people had signed to show they were involved in their care plans and risk assessments.