Sunset Cottage is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five people. At the time of the inspection there were five people living there. People living at Sunset Cottage are young adults who may have a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder.

This inspection took place on 20 June 2017 and was unannounced.

Sunset Cottage was previously registered as a part of “Home Orchard”, which remains as a brand name for four small services providing accommodation and support for people in Chudleigh. In 2016 it was re-registered with the Care Quality Commission, and is now registered under a limited company, Dalskats Limited. The service is in close proximity to three other services which share some administrative facilities, records systems and the brand name. Two other services are registered under Dalskats Limited, and the other is registered under the providers as a partnership. The services work closely together; staff work between the services by agreement and people living in each service mix socially and share some day activities.

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. The registered manager is also a director of the company.

People benefitted because the service had a well understood, positive and open culture, with a clear set of values, ethos and clear lines of management. People, staff and others were encouraged to give their views on what worked well at the service and what could be improved. This information was shared on the services website, including in an easy read version so people could see how their input was able to make changes at the service. Staff told us it was very important to them that people at the service “had a voice”.

People were protected from the risk of abuse as staff understood the signs of abuse and how to report concerns. People were encouraged to speak out if they were worried about anything and had systems in place to help them keep safe when out in the community. Risks to people were identified and plans were put in place to minimise these risks. For example, where people had healthcare conditions that could present risks there were clear and well understood protocols in place to assist staff. Systems were in place to ensure complaints were responded to and managed. Easy read documents were available to help people understand how to raise concerns.

People received their medicines safely as prescribed. Any errors were audited and actions taken to reduce any risk of re-occurrence. Medicines were stored safely, and records completed when people received their medicines.

People were supported by sufficient numbers of well trained and supported staff to meet their needs. Staff recruitment systems were robust, and helped to ensure that people were not supported by staff who may be unsuitable to work with people. Staff told us they had received sufficient training and support to enable them to carry out their role effectively, and we saw through the training records that this was done.

Sunset Cottage provided a safe environment where risks to people had been assessed and were being managed. The cottage was a detached house in close proximity to other properties operated by Dalskats Limited. The property provided each person with a bedroom and bathroom, with a choice of communal space for people who wanted to spend quieter time as well as a large lounge.

People’s rights were respected. Staff had a clear understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and had received training in its implementation. Where people lacked capacity to make an informed decision, staff acted in their best interests. Staff could tell us about the act and were recordi