The Aurora Options - 94 Burnt Ash Hill is a residential care home that provides accommodation and care for up to six people with learning disabilities. At the time of the inspection the home was providing care and support to six people. 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.

At our last inspection of this service on 02 November 2015 the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good. The home demonstrated they continued to meet the regulations and fundamental standards.

The home had a registered manager in post. They were knowledgeable about the requirements of a registered manager and their responsibilities with regard to the Health and Social Care Act 2014.

There were safeguarding and whistle blowing procedures in place and staff had a clear understanding of these procedures. We observed and people and staff told us there was always enough staff on duty to meet people’s needs. Appropriate recruitment checks were carried out before staff started working at the home. People were receiving their medicines as prescribed by health care professionals.

Staff had the knowledge and skills required to meet people’s needs. Action was taken to assess any risks to people. People’s needs were assessed and care plans included detailed information and guidance for staff about how their needs should be met. People were encouraged to eat healthy meals and to cook for themselves. The registered manager and staff had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and acted according to this legislation. Staff monitored people’s mental and physical health and where there were concerns people were referred to appropriate health professionals.

People’s care records included communication profiles that recorded their specific methods of communicating with staff. It was evident that staff knew people well and communicated with them effectively. People were supported to engage in relationships, practice their religion, attend their places of worship and enjoy aspects of their cultural background. Care records were person centred and included people’s views about how they wished to be supported. The home had a complaints procedure in place and this was available in a format that people could understand.

The provider recognised the importance of regularly monitoring the quality of the service they provided to people. The registered manager and staff worked effectively with other organisations to ensure staff followed best practice. They took into account the views of people and their relatives through surveys and residents meetings. Staff said they enjoyed working at the home and they received good support from the registered manager.

People using the service told us that the home was a good place to live. They said that they liked the staff, they felt safe and they were able to go out and do lots of things.

We found that people using the service were asked for their consent before staff carried out any care, and that staff encouraged people to make their own decisions.

We reviewed some of the care records and found that they were detailed, up to date and that people using the service had signed them. People were encouraged and supported to access the local community, and each person had a weekly activity plan in place.

We were shown around the home by some of the people living there. We saw that the communal areas were comfortable, well decorated and clean. Each of the people using the service had their own bedroom which they had been able to personalise.

We reviewed the staff rota. There was always one member of staff on duty, and during the day, for a number of hours, there were two staff. There were also staff on call if there were any problems.

There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service being provided. Staff in the home carried out a number of health and safety checks every week; whilst the area manager visited and carried out a quality check every month.

We spoke with all six people living at the home. They told us they felt safe there and how much they enjoyed their lifestyle. They found that staff helped them with tasks they found difficult.

People told us they enjoyed the inclusive environment, they were involved in choosing colour schemes for their own bedrooms, and for carpets and pictures in communal areas.

A person spoken with told of taking part in things they enjoyed, they said, “I go to church on my own and meet up with my friends in Blackheath".

Another person said, “This home is a great place to live, all of us living here get on well".

People living in the home found that they had support to do meaningful things they liked such as part time employment and attending art classes.

We carried out this comprehensive inspection on 2 and 3 November 2015. The inspection was unannounced.

The Aurora Options provides accommodation and personal care for people with learning disabilities. The care home is a detached two-storey property located on a main road, close to local amenities.

The service had a registered manager in post at the time of the inspection . 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.

People felt safe. Staff knew the procedures to follow should abuse be suspected. When a safeguarding concern was raised the service acted appropriately to protect people. Risks to people were identified and up to date plans to minimise these risks were in place.

The service had a robust recruitment and selection process in place. Appropriate checks were undertaken before staff began work. These checks included obtaining references from previous employers to show successful applicants were safe to work with vulnerable people.

People’s medicines were managed safely. People had access to healthcare professionals when required.

People were protected against the risk of abuse. Staff were able to demonstrate solid knowledge of identifying abuse and the appropriate steps to raise their concerns. The service had comprehensive policies and procedures relating to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. These aim to make sure that people in care homes, hospitals and supported living are looked after in a way that does not deprive them of their liberty and ensures that people are supported to make decisions relating to the care they receive. Services should only deprive someone of their liberty when it is in the best interests of the person and there is no other way to look after them, and it should be done in a safe and lawful manner

People’s care records were up to date and reflected their current needs and aspirations for the future. People were listened to and their choices and decisions were acted upon by staff. This included what activities they participated in and where they wanted to live.

There was a complaints procedure in a pictorial format and on DVD that was understood by people who used the service. The providers had quality monitoring systems in place to monitor practice.

The registered manager demonstrated an open management style and helped create a friendly, homely atmosphere in the service.

Staff received training and support to provide people’s care and support effectively.