We inspected the service on 1 December 2017. The inspection was unannounced.

Royal Mencap Society – 32 Kings Lane is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Royal Mencap Society – 32 Kings Lane provides care and support for up to eight people with physical and learning disabilities. Nursing care is not provided. The care service has been developed and designed in line with values that underpin the Registering 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.

At the last inspection on 22 October 2015, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained good.

The service has a registered manager. 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.

Staff demonstrated a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice

People were assisted by staff in a way that supported their safety and that they were treated respectfully. People had health care and support plans in place to ensure their needs were being met. Risks to people were identified and plans were put into place to enable people to live as safely and independently as possible.

There were sufficient numbers of safely recruited staff available to meet people’s care and support needs. Medication was safely stored and administered to people.

There was a friendly, relaxed atmosphere and staff were kind and attentive in their approach. People were provided with food and drink that met their individual needs and preferences.

Staff were trained to provide effective care which met people’s individual needs. The standard of staff members’ work performance was reviewed by the registered manager through supervisions, spot checks and appraisals.

The registered manager sought feedback about the quality of the service provided from people and/or their relatives, staff and visiting health professionals. There was an on-going quality monitoring process in place to identify areas of improvement required within the service. Where improvements had been identified, actions were taken. Learning from incidents were discussed at staff meetings to reduce the risk of recurrence.

Records showed that the CQC was informed of incidents that the provider was legally obliged to notify us of.

Further information is in the detailed findings below

Royal Mencap Society - 32 Kings Lane is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to eight people. There were seven people living at the home when we visited. Accommodation is provided over two floors. All bedrooms are for single occupancy and there are separate toilets and bathroom/shower facilities. There are two kitchens, communal areas, including a dining room and lounges, for people and their guests to use. People and their relatives also had access to the rear gardens.

This unannounced inspection was carried out on 2 September 2015. The last inspection took place on 24 July 2013, during which we found the regulations were being met.

At the time of our inspection a registered manager was in place. 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.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and report on what we find. We found that people’s rights were being protected as DoLS applications were in progress where required and had been submitted to the relevant local authorities.

People who lived in the home were assisted by staff in a way that supported their safety and in a respectful manner. There were health care and support plans in place to ensure that staff had guidance to meet people’s individual care needs. The care and support plans recorded people’s individual choices, their likes and dislikes and the assistance they required. Risks to people who lived in the home were identified and assessed to enable people to live as safely and independently as possible.

. Staff assisted people with personal care, their medication, activities/hobbies, cooking and domestic tasks in a kind and cheerful and sensitive way.

Members of staff were trained to provide care which met people’s individual needs and wishes. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities. They were supported by the registered manager to maintain and develop their skills and knowledge through regular supervision, appraisals and ongoing training.

People and their relatives felt able to raise any suggestions or concerns they might have with the registered manager. People felt listened to and reported that communication with the registered manager and members of staff were open and very good.

Arrangements were in place to ensure that the quality of the service provided for people was regularly monitored. People who lived in the home and their relatives were encouraged to share their views and feedback about the quality of the care and support provided.

During our inspection on 24 July 2013 we found that people who lived there were involved in decisions taken and the planning of their care. One person told us, “I feel safe here and looked after”.

We found that care records were current and reflected the needs of people who lived in the home. Staff demonstrated a good understanding and knowledge of the care and support people required.

A safeguarding policy for vulnerable adults was in place and staff had undertaken safeguarding training. Information was available for people who lived in the home, their families and staff informing them of how to safeguard people from abuse and raise a concern.

There was a recruitment procedure in place to ensure that only people suitable to work with vulnerable people were employed. Staff received a wide range of training to equip them for their role.

There were regular on-going training sessions in place to ensure that staff safely delivered care and support to people.

There was an effective system in place to deal with any complaints people who lived in the home or their relatives might raise.

We used a number of different methods to help us understand the experiences of people living in the home as not everyone was able to tell us their experiences due to their complex needs. We spent time observing the care provided to people, looked at records and spoke with two people living in the home.

Staff provided care to people in a kind and supportive way. Staff explained to people what they were going to do prior to assisting them with tasks such as mobility and eating a meal.

The two people who spoke with us told us that they liked living there. One person said that when they were unwell the staff looked after them and made sure they were able to go to hospital if they needed to. They said that they liked preparing the vegetables for dinner and also that they enjoyed playing games such as skittles and dominoes with the staff.

Another person told us that they had not lived there long and that the staff were helpful but encouraged them to maintain their independence. They also told us that they had been involved in the assessment of their needs that was carried out prior to them moving to the home.