This inspection took place on 12 and 13 June 2017 and was announced. A previous inspection, undertaken in March 2015, found there were no breaches of legal requirements and rated the service as Good overall, although we rated Well-led as requires improvement, as there had been minimal oversight of the service by the provider. At this inspection we found the home was continuing to meet all legal requirements.

Stonehaven Residential Care Home is a three bedroomed bungalow situated in Red Row, near Morpeth, which provides accommodation for up to three people with learning disabilities. Nursing care is not provided. At the time of the inspection there were three people using the service.

The home had a registered manager who had been registered since October 2011. 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.

Safeguarding procedures were in place. There had been no recent safeguarding matters formally investigated. The premises were effectively maintained and safety checks undertaken on a regular basis, including checks with regard to fire safety. Risk assessments were in place related to the environment and the delivery of care.

Appropriate staffing levels were maintained to support the needs of people living at the home. Suitable recruitment procedures and checks were in place to ensure staff employed at the home had the correct skills and experience. Medicines at the home were managed and administered safely and effectively. People were supported to access adequate food and drink.

Staff said they were able to access the training they required and records confirmed mandatory training was up to date. Staff told us, and records confirmed there were regular supervision sessions and that they had an annual appraisal.

The registered manager had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. One person currently living at the home had restrictions in place linked to the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Two other people were in the process of being assessed as to whether they met the legal requirements. Where people did not have capacity or full understanding to make decisions then best interests decisions had been taken and documented.

People had access to health care professionals to help maintain their wellbeing and staff responded to any health concerns. There was a homely feel to the building and people’s individual rooms were decorated to their tastes.

Relatives we spoke with told us they felt the care was good, personal and responsive to people’s needs. Questionnaire responses from people and relatives of people living at the home indicated the service was good. We observed positive relationships between people and staff. Staff were empathetic in their approach. People were treated with dignity and respect.

People had individualised care plans that addressed their identified needs. Reviews of care needs involved individuals and family members, as appropriate. Individuals were supported to engage in a range of events and activities linked to their interests, both within the home and in the community. No formal complaints had been received in the previous 12 months.

The registered manager showed us records confirming regular checks and audits were carried out at the home, including checks by the provider’s nominated individual. Staff were positive about the leadership of the home and the registered manager, who they said had a good understanding of people’s needs. The provider was meeting legal requirements in relation to notifying the CQC of events and displaying their current quality rating. Records were complete and up to date.

This inspection took place on 12 and 13 June 2017 and was announced. A previous inspection, undertaken in March 2015, found there were no breaches of legal requirements and rated the service as Good overall, although we rated Well-led as requires improvement, as there had been minimal oversight of the service by the provider. At this inspection we found the home was continuing to meet all legal requirements.

Stonehaven Residential Care Home is a three bedroomed bungalow situated in Red Row, near Morpeth, which provides accommodation for up to three people with learning disabilities. Nursing care is not provided. At the time of the inspection there were three people using the service.

The home had a registered manager who had been registered since October 2011. 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.

Safeguarding procedures were in place. There had been no recent safeguarding matters formally investigated. The premises were effectively maintained and safety checks undertaken on a regular basis, including checks with regard to fire safety. Risk assessments were in place related to the environment and the delivery of care.

Appropriate staffing levels were maintained to support the needs of people living at the home. Suitable recruitment procedures and checks were in place to ensure staff employed at the home had the correct skills and experience. Medicines at the home were managed and administered safely and effectively. People were supported to access adequate food and drink.

Staff said they were able to access the training they required and records confirmed mandatory training was up to date. Staff told us, and records confirmed there were regular supervision sessions and that they had an annual appraisal.

The registered manager had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. One person currently living at the home had restrictions in place linked to the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Two other people were in the process of being assessed as to whether they met the legal requirements. Where people did not have capacity or full understanding to make decisions then best interests decisions had been taken and documented.

People had access to health care professionals to help maintain their wellbeing and staff responded to any health concerns. There was a homely feel to the building and people’s individual rooms were decorated to their tastes.

Relatives we spoke with told us they felt the care was good, personal and responsive to people’s needs. Questionnaire responses from people and relatives of people living at the home indicated the service was good. We observed positive relationships between people and staff. Staff were empathetic in their approach. People were treated with dignity and respect.

People had individualised care plans that addressed their identified needs. Reviews of care needs involved individuals and family members, as appropriate. Individuals were supported to engage in a range of events and activities linked to their interests, both within the home and in the community. No formal complaints had been received in the previous 12 months.

The registered manager showed us records confirming regular checks and audits were carried out at the home, including checks by the provider’s nominated individual. Staff were positive about the leadership of the home and the registered manager, who they said had a good understanding of people’s needs. The provider was meeting legal requirements in relation to notifying the CQC of events and displaying their current quality rating. Records were complete and up to date.

People told us they were happy with the care and support they received. One person said, "I like it here, this is my home." Another person said, "I like it here, I am happy, it is good." We saw staff interacted positively and politely with people when they delivered care and support.

People told us their consent was gained prior to care being delivered and we found that staff acted in accordance with their wishes. We found that people's care and support needs were appropriately assessed and their care was planned. They received care safely, and to an appropriate standard.

People were cared for in a clean and hygienic environment and we found the provider had appropriate measures in place to monitor and manage infection control.

There were enough suitably skilled and qualified staff on duty to met people's needs safely and appropriately.

We saw the provider had a complaints policy and procedure in place and that complaints raised had been handled appropriately.

We spoke with two of the people who lived at the home. They told us they were happy there and liked their accommodation. People told us that they regularly go out to meet friends and enjoy social activities. One person said “I go out to meet my friend every week” and “I used to go to college but I have finished all of the courses, so now I do Art every Friday”.

People said that staff helped them to shop for food and personal possessions. They said staff cooked meals that they enjoyed and helped them to stay healthy.