We visited The Mount Camphill Community on the10 and 11 January 2017 and made telephone calls to families of people using the service on 12 January 2017. The Mount Camphill Community is an independent specialist college for people with a learning disability that provides education and learning for people aged 16 to 25 to promote and develop their independence. The majority of people reside at the community for term times, day students also attend if requested. There are five houses with one connected and two situated in the grounds as well as one just off site. Staff support people in their own houses with the care and support required in their person centred care plans. At the time of our inspection visit the service was providing education, care and support for 22 people. There were 21 house coordinator/co worker staff employed to provide care and support with a team of senior staff and administration staff.

The service had 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.

There were safeguarding policies in place and staff were aware of the safeguarding procedures in relation to safeguarding children and adults and all were aware of the need to inform the manager or senior staff immediately.

Staff were recruited correctly using safe checks such as criminal records (DBS). There was an induction programme in place which included training staff to ensure they were competent in the role they were doing. Staff received on going and regular training to enable them to work safely and effectively.

Staff knew what to do if any difficulties arose whilst supporting somebody, or if an accident happened. Incidents and accidents were recorded and learned from.

The provider complied with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and its associated codes of practice in the delivery of care. We found that the staff followed the requirements and principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). Staff we spoke with had an understanding of what their role was and what their obligations where in order to maintain people’s rights. The service was providing support to people who did not have the capacity to make their own decisions in different areas of their lives and required staff support.

The opinions of people who spoke with us were that the service was good. People told us they were happy with the staff and felt that the staff understood their educational, care and support needs. All of the people we spoke with had no complaints about the service.

The staff employed by The Mount Camphill Community knew the people they were supporting and the care they needed. People and the staff told us that the community was well led and staff told us that they felt well supported in their roles. We saw that the registered manager and senior staff had a visible presence and it was obvious that they knew the people who they supported and cared for really well.

We spoke with two people who were studying at Mount Camphill Community. They told us “we are all friends here and I can choose what I want to do” and “I have a choice about what I do every day.” People told us that staff were supportive and helpful. We observed kind interaction between staff and people and that people were included in everyday activities. We saw that Mount Camphill had systems in place to gain consent and we observed staff requesting consent and consulting with people.

We inspected records and concluded that record keeping was exemplary and well planned. Information was updated as required and intervention from outside agencies was timely.

We saw that people were actively involved in planning all activities within Mount Camphill, including meal preparation and the planning of healthy diets.

We saw that medication was stored correctly and that procedures were in place which managed medications in a safe way. From speaking with staff we could be sure that the management of medication was taken seriously, whilst still seeking to empower people.

We saw that staffing levels were appropriate with trained staff who were regularly supervised and monitored. We spoke with staff who confirmed that the training they received was timely and appropriate to the tasks required of them.

We talked to three staff, all of whom showed a good understanding and knowledge of people at the home.

We observed staff assisting people in making choices and in offering choices, such as a choice of food. We read in people’s records how their wishes, likes and dislikes were taken into account in their care and support plans.

We saw detailed care plans and risk assessments and saw that people were helped to be involved in their care planning and in expressing their wishes. We read that plans had been put in place which involved families and external professionals in making major decisions for some people.

We read recent annual surveys of people, families and carers, outside professionals and staff. Actions were placed against areas where people had raised issues.

We looked quality assurance and governance systems and found that there were suitable processes in place to monitor and improve the service.

Students told us they were involved in decisions about their day to day lives and their care and support. Students were happy with the support received and had access to health care professionals if required. Students felt safe living at The Mount. Procedures for giving students their medicines were safe. Students told us that all equipment was in working order. Parts of the staff team had been there a long time but others changed each year. Students told us the staff were kind and supportive. Staff were recruited in a safe way and had received training. The service did checks to make sure things ran smoothly and students were satisfied with their care. Students felt confident to raise concerns which were usually resolved during the house meetings. Records were stored appropriately and safely.