A single inspector carried out this inspection. The focus of the inspection was to answer five key questions; is the service safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?Two people used the service at the time of this inspection. We had contact with both people and spoke with one person and a relative. We also spoke with a support worker and the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service and shares the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law with the provider.
Records viewed included those of both people, staff rosters and staff training, policies and procedures and minutes of meetings.
Below is a summary of what we found. The summary describes what people using the service, those acting on their behalf and staff told us and what we observed.
Is the service safe?
Records showed people experienced safe and appropriate care. Their needs had been assessed and their support planned and delivered in accordance with individualised support and risk-management plans. For example, positive behaviour support plans had been produced for the safe management of behaviours that challenge services.
We saw staff had cooperated with other agencies and professionals involved in people's care and support. They shared information in a confidential manner, ensuring people's support was safe and appropriate.
We found sufficient numbers of suitably qualified, skilled and experienced staff on duty to ensure people's safety, health and wellbeing. Systems were in place for responding to and analysing incidents, accidents, complaints and safeguarding alerts.
The provider and registered manager understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). At the time of our inspection no one was subject to a DoLS authorisation or application.
Procedures were in place for dealing with emergencies and staff suitably trained to ensure people's safety and welfare.
Is the service effective?
People's needs had been assessed and care and risk management plans had been produced and were mostly current. A person we spoke with felt staff understood and met their needs. We saw that people experienced effective, safe and appropriate care that met their needs and respected their rights.
People had been involved in some decisions related to their health and support needs. Where unable to actively contribute to these decisions, staff had worked in collaboration with other professionals to assess and meet their needs. A relative told us they had been included in this process during review meetings.
Care plans were detailed and covered all of their health, personal and social support needs. Staff ensured the plans were reviewed regularly and in response to changes in needs or behaviours.
Information from staff and records showed sufficient staff were available to support people in accessing community resources and facilities.
Is the service caring?
A person living in the home stated, 'I like living here, I like all the staff." They also told us they had choice in their daily life and routines and staff knew and respected their preferences.
When speaking with staff it was clear they genuinely cared for the people they supported.
People's interests, aspirations and diverse needs had been recorded and care and support provision had been in accordance with people's wishes.
Is the service responsive?
One person told us staff supported them to have an active social life and engage in their hobbies and interests. They enjoyed a recent holiday and was looking forward to going back to college at the start of the new term. They enjoyed regular visits from a relative who went with them on visits to another member of their family.
Practice observations and records showed staff understood and responded to the wishes of a person with limited verbal communication, enabling choice in their life.
The service worked well with other agencies and services, ensuring people received care and support in a coherent way.
Is the service well-led?
The service had an experienced, suitably qualified registered manager. A staff member said the team received clear direction and support from the registered manager who visited the service most days. We found the registered manager promoted and facilitated effective team-work, setting standards for quality care and support to people and monitored practice.
We saw staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities and had a good understanding of the home's ethos. Systems enabled staff to provide feedback to managers, so their knowledge and experience was taken into account in the operation of the service. This helped ensure people received a good quality service at all times.