We carried out an inspection of Woodlands on 10 and 11 November 2016. We gave the service 48 hours' notice of the inspection because it is a small service and we wanted to make sure the people living there and the manager would be in. Woodlands provides accommodation and care for up to four young adults who have a learning disability. At the time of the inspection there were four people living at the service.

Bedrooms and facilities at the home are located over two floors. All bedrooms are single occupancy. There is a kitchen, dining room, lounge, bathroom and shower room. There are gardens to the front and rear of the property.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager at the service who had been in post since 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.

At our last inspection on 19 July 2012, the provider was compliant with all of the standards that were reviewed at that time. During this inspection we found that the service was meeting the current regulations.

Relatives told us their family members were kept safe at the home. The staff we spoke with had a good understanding of how to safeguard vulnerable adults from abuse and what action to take if they suspected abusive or neglectful practice.

Records showed that staff had been recruited safely and their suitability to support people living at the home had been checked. We found that staffing levels were appropriate to meet people’s needs and relatives and staff were happy with the staffing levels at the service. Staff received a thorough induction, effective training and regular supervision. They told us they felt well supported by the registered manager.

There were appropriate policies and procedures in place for the management of medicines and we observed people receiving their medicines safely. The relatives we spoke with were happy with the way people’s medicines were managed. People were supported with their healthcare needs and were referred appropriately to a variety of healthcare services. A local healthcare professional gave us positive feedback about the care provided at the service.

One person living at the home told us they were happy living there. The relatives we spoke with were happy with the care provided to people living at the home and felt staff had the knowledge and skills to meet people’s needs. Staff responded to people’s needs quickly and we saw evidence that people’s needs and any risks to their health and wellbeing were reviewed regularly.

Risks relating to people’s nutrition and hydration were assessed and managed appropriately. We observed people being supported appropriately with their meals.

The service had taken appropriate action where people lacked the capacity to make decisions about their care and where they needed to be deprived of their liberty to keep them safe. Relatives told us they were involved in decisions about their family member’s care.

One person living at the service told us the staff were nice. Relatives told us the staff who supported their family members were caring. They told us staff respected people’s privacy and dignity and encouraged them to be independent. We saw staff treating people with kindness and affection and saw that people were relaxed and comfortable around the staff who supported them.

People took part in a variety of activities within the home and staff supported them to participate in a variety of activities in the community regularly. Staff encouraged and supported people to maintain regular contact with their relatives wherever possible.

Relatives felt the registered manager managed the service very well and they felt able to raise any concerns with her. Staff told

During our inspection we met three of the young people who lived at the home. Some of the residents we met were not able to give us their views verbally but we saw them being well supported by staff who clearly understood their needs.

We spoke with one resident who told us that she liked living at Woodlands. She spoke highly of her support workers and told us about a number of recent events that she had enjoyed very much with her support workers. These included a birthday party that she had organised with staff. She said, ‘’I loved it. It was a special time.’’ We also heard about her recent holiday which she described as brilliant!

This resident also showed us her bedroom, which she was very proud of. She told us that she had picked the furnishings and said, ‘’My bedroom is beautiful, isn’t it?’’

During this inspection we looked at a number of areas including capacity and consent, care and welfare of people who used the service, medicines management and staff recruitment. We also looked at how managers assessed important areas of quality and safety. We found the home was compliant, in all the areas we assessed.

One resident we met told us that she was happy living at Woodlands and that she found the staff to be ‘very fair’. She showed us her bedroom, which was beautifully decorated, and told us she had chosen the décor. She said ‘’I am so happy with it. I love it.’’

This resident was discussing her plans for the evening with staff who were heard patiently providing reassurance about arrangements.

Other residents we met were not able to comment specifically but we observed them interacting with staff and going about their day. The residents all appeared relaxed and happy and it was clear that they got along well with their support workers.

We spoke with close relatives of two people who live at the home and received some very positive feedback. People told us that they were extremely satisfied with the service provided at Woodlands and spoke very highly of the staff and manager.

Comments we received included;

‘’I don’t have one second of doubt about the home. I never have to worry at all.’’

‘’The change in (name removed) is absolutely unbelievable. He is so much calmer and happier.’’

‘’Everyone I have met there is absolutely brilliant. The home is second to none.’’

‘’I cannot sing their praises enough. I cannot imagine how anyone would not be 100% happy with the care they provide there.’’