Sunflowers is registered to provide treatment of disease, disorder or injury for people who may use the service. At the time of our inspection there were two people using the service which included respite care. The service is a two storey premises located in the village of Cottenham close to local shops, amenities and facilities.

This announced inspection took place on 10 August 2016.

The service had two registered managers. 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.

Staff had been trained in recognising any potential harm and they were knowledgeable about how to help protect people from any, or potential, incident of harm. A sufficient number of skilled, safely recruited and competent staff were in post.

People’s medicines, including medicines prescribed to be given ‘when required’ were safely administered by those staff who had been trained and deemed competent. People’s medicines were managed and disposed of safely.

Staff were supported in their role with an effective induction, training and on-going clinical supervision and mentoring.

Appropriate risk management strategies were in place to help ensure people were kept as safe as reasonably practicable. Systems were in place to support people in the event of an emergency such as need to evacuate the premises.

The CQC is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and to report on what we find. The registered managers, nursing, senior and care staff were knowledgeable about if and when a decision needed to be made in any person’s best interests.

People were supported by, and they had to access to, a wide range of health care services. People’s nutritional support needs were met and people were effectively supported to maintain a safe level of hydration and nutrition. People who were at risk of malnutrition were supported in a safe way.

People’s care came first and foremost and this care was provided by staff with compassion.

Staff undertook this role with full consideration of people’s needs, dignity. People and their relatives, were involved in the planning and delivery of the care that was provided. Advocacy arrangements were in place should any child or younger person require this support.

People’s care plans contained detailed and sufficient up to date guidance. This was to help ensure that people’s care was as individualised as it could possibly be. Reviews of people’s care plans were effective in identifying in a timely manner if and when changes were required. People were supported to be given the best opportunities to be as involved in and living as meaningful lives as potentially possible. People were supported with a wide range of hobbies, interests, social awareness and stimulation.

A complaints, suggestions and compliments process was in place and actions were taken to implement changes or sustain good practice. People, staff and visitors were encouraged to provide their feedback and views on the quality of care people received in a variety of ways.

A range of effective audit and quality assurance procedures were in place. This was to help identify what worked well and any area that did not work as well as planned.

The registered managers fostered an open and honest culture within the staff team. Best practice was seen as being part of the day to day care people received. Innovation was considered and acted upon with a tangible benefit so that people could live ordinary lives in extraordinary circumstances. The registered managers enabled people to access the local community.