165 Point Clear is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and personal care as a single package under a contractual agreement with the local authority, health authority or the individual, if privately funded. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

165 Point Clear provides accommodation and personal care for up to five people who have a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. 165 Point Clear is an adapted residential property situated in a residential area of St Osyth in Clacton and is close to amenities and main bus routes. The premises is set out on two floors with each person using the service having their own individual bedroom and adequate communal facilities are available for people to make use of within the service. At the time of our inspection five people were using the service.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen. 'Registering the Right Support CQC policy.”

At our last inspection of this service on 10 February 2016 the service was rated Good. At this inspection, we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring, that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

A registered manager was in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

There were arrangements in place to protect people from risks to their safety and welfare, including the risks of avoidable harm and abuse. Staffing levels were sufficient to support people safely.

Recruitment processes were in place to make sure the service only employed staff who were suitable to work in a care setting.

There were arrangements in place to store medicines safely and administer them safely and in accordance with people's preferences.

Staff received appropriate training and supervision to maintain and develop their skills and knowledge to support people according to their needs.

Staff were aware of and put into practice the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

People were supported to eat and drink enough to maintain their health and welfare. People were supported to access healthcare services, such as GPs and specialist healthcare professionals.

Care staff had developed caring relationships with people they supported. People were encouraged to take part in decisions about their care and support and their views were listened to. Staff respected people's independence, privacy, and dignity.

Care and support were based on assessments and plans which took into account people's abilities, needs and preferences. People were able to take part in leisure activities which reflected their interests.

People were kept aware of the provider's complaints procedure, and complaints were managed in a professional manner.

The service had a calm, welcoming atmosphere. Systems were in place to make sure the service was managed efficiently and to monitor and assess the quality of service provided.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

The inspection took place on 10 February 2016 and was unannounced. 165 Point Clear Road is a care home that provides accommodation and personal care for up to five people who have a learning disability and/or autistic spectrum disorder. On the day of our inspection five people were using the service.

The service has a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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 were safe because staff understood their responsibilities in managing risk and identifying abuse. People received safe care that met their assessed needs. There were sufficient staff to provide people with the support they needed to live as full a life as possible. Staff had been recruited safely and had the skills and knowledge to provide care and support in ways that people preferred. The provider had systems in place to manage medicines and people were supported to take their prescribed medicines safely.

The service was meeting the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Appropriate mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions had been undertaken by relevant professionals. This ensured that the decision was taken in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005, DoLS and associated Codes of Practice. The Act, Safeguards and Codes of Practice are in place to protect the rights of adults by ensuring that if there is a need for restrictions on their freedom and liberty these are assessed and decided by appropriately trained professionals. People at the service were subject to the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Staff had been trained and had a good understanding of the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

Staff had developed positive, respectful relationships with people and were kind and caring in their approach. People were given choices in their daily routines and their privacy and dignity was respected. People were supported and enabled to be as independent as possible in all aspects of their lives.

Staff knew people well and were trained, skilled and competent in meeting people’s needs. Staff were supported and supervised in their roles. People, where able, were involved in the planning and reviewing of their care and support.

People’s health needs were managed appropriately with input from relevant health care professionals. Staff supported people to have sufficient food and drink that met their individual needs. People were treated with kindness and respect by staff who knew them well.

People were supported to maintain relationships with friends and family so that they were not socially isolated. There was an open culture and staff were supported to provide care that was centred on the individual. The manager was open and approachable and enabled people who used the service to express their views.

The provider had systems in place to check the quality of the service and take the views and concerns of people and their relatives into account to make improvements to the service.

People living at 165 Point Clear Road had complex needs and were unable to discuss their care with us which meant they could not tell us their experiences. We saw from gestures and facial expressions that they were contented. From general conversations we heard it was evident people were happy with their care and support.

We saw that there were respectful and caring interactions between members of staff and people living in the home.

Staff knew people well and they were able to tell us about their specific needs. Staff listened to people and provided care and support in ways that met their needs and took into account their individual preferences.

The provider had safeguarding procedures in place to ensure people received care and support safely.

There were systems in place to recruit staff safely and provide them with the supervision, support and training they needed. This ensured that they had the skills and knowledge to provide safe and effective care.

The service had good systems in place for maintaining records, which contained the information needed to deliver care that met people’s needs.

People using the service had complex needs which meant that not all of them were able to tell us their experiences. We gathered evidence of people’s experiences of the service by talking with some people, observing how others spent their time and noting how they interacted with other people living in the home and with staff.

We saw that people smiled and appeared relaxed and comfortable with staff and others living in the home. One person spoke with us generally and said they liked the home. We could see that people were confident and happy.

During our inspection we saw that people received good care and that staff treated them with respect.

Staff showed a good understanding of people’s needs and their individual ways of communicating.

Some of the people living at 165 Point Clear Road were not able to communicate with us verbally and some chose not to talk with us. They shared their views through gestures, facial expressions and body language wherever possible. We saw people were engaged in a range of activities, relaxed and comfortable with staff and other people using the service.