About the service: Rossendale Hall is registered to provide regulated activity [personal care] to people with learning disabilities in supported living accommodation. Apartments are based within the main office grounds and in community settings based in Macclesfield and Buxton. At the time of this inspection 68 people were receiving regulated activity.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support in the following ways; promotion of choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

People’s experience of using this service:

People and relatives were positive about the care and support provided.

People told us that they felt safe. Medicines were administered by trained and competent staff and staff were aware of procedures to follow to prevent and control the spread of infection. People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm.

People continued to receive a service that was effective. People’s needs were fully assessed and regularly reviewed. Care and support were person-centred, people enjoyed good outcomes and quality of life. Staff were well trained and knowledgeable about the needs and wishes of the people they supported. Where people were unable to make decisions about their care, the service followed the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Supporting people to maintain their health and well-being was a key focus of the service.

Staff were kind and caring, treating people with respect and without discrimination. People were supported to live active lives, maintaining and improving their independence. Warm and friendly relationships had developed between staff and people using the service. Advocacy services were contacted if needed to ensure people’s rights were protected. People were able to express their views in a variety of ways.

Each person had a well-developed care plan which was tailored to their individual needs and provided staff with the information needed to provide support which was responsive to people’s needs and wishes. There was a procedure in place to handle concerns/complaints and people and relatives told us they knew who to speak with if they had any concerns and that they would be listened to.

The service was led by a management team with clear lines of authority. The registered manager led an open culture which focused on learning and continually improving the service provided. The registered provider’s vision for the service was embedded in care and support delivery. There had been a misunderstanding regarding notifying the Care Quality Commission about events which happened within the service, however the manager took immediate action to rectify this.

Rating at last inspection: At the last inspection the service was rated Good [7 October 2016].

Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up: We will continue our on-going monitoring of the service and all information we receive. We will use this information to determine when we next inspect the service.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

The inspection visit at Rossendale Hall was undertaken on 16 August 2016 and was announced. We gave 48 hours’ notice of the inspection to ensure people who accessed the service, staff and visitors were available to talk with us.

Rossendale Hall provides personal care assistance for people who live in specially designed units within the grounds and other areas of Macclesfield. The service supports older people and people who live with learning and physical disabilities. The office is based in a residential area of Macclesfield. At the time of our inspection there were 59 people being supported by Rossendale Hall, who employed over 165 staff and volunteers.

A registered manager was 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.

At the last inspection on 01 July 2014, we found the provider was meeting the requirements of the regulations.

During this inspection, people we spoke with said they felt secure and comfortable. The registered manager provided staff with safeguarding training to underpin their roles and responsibilities. Additionally, risk assessments were in place intended to reduce potential risks of harm or injury to people. For example, staff checked potential risks associated with malnutrition or obesity.

People told us staffing levels were ample to meet their support requirements. Records we reviewed confirmed staff received training and competency testing to underpin their skills. A recruitment policy and procedures were in place, which the management team followed to protect people from the employment of unsuitable staff.

Staff files contained evidence they received medicines training. We saw this was followed up with regular competency testing to maintain safe procedures. We observed staff administered medication carefully and explained to each person what they were for.

Staff demonstrated a good awareness of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and associated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. A staff member told us, “We’ve had training, which helps us to understand what is the least restrictive way to help people.” Care records we reviewed evidenced people or their representatives had consented to their care.

The management team and staff understood the importance of involving people in their care planning. We found care planning was personalised and staff tailored support to each person’s requirements. People told us they had no complaints and we noted they had information to assist them if they wished to do so.

The registered manager provided training to underpin staff understanding of the principles of privacy and dignity in care with staff. We observed staff used their skills when they supported and engaged with people. For example, staff promoted meals as a social occasion in people’s flats, such as chatting with them and discussing the day ahead.

We observed the management team sought staff, people and relatives’ feedback about the quality of their care. They analysed this, fed back their findings and implemented changes to improve care. One staff member said, “The company are always looking to improve things.” The registered manager had auditing systems to assess quality assurance and maintain people’s wellbeing.

People told us they had agreed to the care and support they were receiving and had signed their records to confirm this where the person was able to understand.

Three people spoken with told us they were happy with their care and support and said they were treated very well by the staff.

We found that medicines were stored safely and medicines records were properly signed and up to date.

All of the staff had achieved a recognised qualification in care and supporting people with learning disabilities, which would help them to look after people properly.

We looked at two staff records and noted staff had been provided with up to date training relevant to their role.

We found records required to be kept to protect the safety and wellbeing of people who used the service were accurate and up to date to ensure people's needs were fully met.

The five tenants who we spoke to told us they "felt safe" and that they liked living there, they also told us that staff "were great and really kind".

One of the tenants told us they "were very happy about living in Rose Gardens and the choices they were offered in their daily lives.

The relatives told us that they were regular visitors to the home and they had always seen staff treat people with respect and maintain their dignity.

One relative told us that staff "looked after (their family member) very well"

One relative told us the "care in the home was very good it was reflective of the care that they had received when living at home".

The relatives told us they had no concerns or worries about the safety and well-being of their family members.

You can see our judgements on the front page of this report.