Our inspection was unannounced and took place on 24 August 2015. The inspection was carried out by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
The provider is registered to accommodate and deliver nursing and personal care to eight people. People who lived there had a range of conditions which included learning disability or associated needs and some people had symptoms of dementia. Eight people lived there at the time of our inspection.
The service provided support to a mixed age range of adults who may have wished to go out into the community. We started our inspection early in the morning so that we could meet and speak with the people who lived there and staff before they went out.
At our last inspections of 2012 and 2013 the provider was meeting all of the regulations that we assessed.
The manager was registered with us as is required by law. 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 received support from staff with taking prescribed medicines. Generally this was done in a way that people preferred and that minimised any risk to them.
Staff knew the procedures that they should follow to ensure the risk of harm or abuse to people was reduced.
Staff were available to meet peoples individual needs. Staff received induction training and the day to day support they needed to ensure they did their job safely.
Staff had received training and they understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). This ensured that people received care in line with their best interests and would not be unlawfully restricted.
Staff supported people with their nutrition and health care needs. We found that people were enabled and encouraged to make decisions about their care and they or their relatives were involved in how their care was planned and delivered.
People were encouraged and were supported to engage in recreational activities that they enjoyed.
People were cared for and supported by kind and caring staff to be independent and attend to their own needs when they could.
All people received assessment and treatment when needed from a range of health care professionals including their GP, specialist consultants and specialist nurses which helped to promote their health and well-being.
Systems were in place for people and their relatives to raise their concerns or complaints.
People and their relatives communicated to us that the quality of service was good. The management of the service was stable. The registered manager and provider undertook regular audits and took action where changes or improvements were needed.