We undertook an announced inspection on 7 January 2019 to Short Term Breaks – April Cottage. The provider changed mid-October 2018 and so this was the first inspection under the new provider.

This is a service where people receive accommodation and 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. The service offers up to four people with a physical or learning disability short term breaks/respite throughout the year. This can be for a few hours or overnight stays. At the time of the inspection the service was providing short term breaks to a total of 33 people. At the time of our inspection one person was visiting the service for a few hours and one person was staying overnight at the service.

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.

There was 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 some audits and monitoring checks in place. However, audits did not always effectively identify where improvements needed to be made, such as ensuring complaint and safeguarding records were all up to date and accessible and that all staff received the supervision and annual appraisal of their work.

This was a breach of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.). You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.

Staff were knowledgeable and had the relevant skills and experience to support the people staying at April Cottage. However, improvements needed to be made to ensure staff received the support they required via regular supervision and an ongoing appraisal of their work.

The building, owned by a housing association, required updating in places and rooms needed decorating. The registered manager was looking for this to be actioned shortly after the inspection

There were enough staff to keep people safe and the provider followed safe recruitment procedures. Staff knew people’s needs well and were passionate about supporting people. However, due to changes in staff member’s working patterns, some felt they no longer had the time to read information to prepare for the shift. The registered manager was aware of these concerns and was working to support staff through the changes.

There were systems in place to manage and respond to complaints and people and relatives knew who they could go to if they had a query or complaint. One complaint record was not available to view during the inspection and the registered manager confirmed they would ensure this was obtained and kept in the service to show how it had been dealt with.

The provider had appropriate arrangements in place to help protect people from the risk of the spread of infection.

People were safe using the service. Staff knew how to recognise safeguarding concerns and what to do if they suspected any abuse. Risks to people were identified and plans put in place to minimise these risks. Guidance was in place for staff so that they could mitigate risk, whilst supporting people to take sensible and assessed risks in their lives. People and their relatives were involved in the development of their care planning and people’s needs were reviewed on an ongoing basis. People safely received their medicines.

People were supported to have maximum choice and contr