Our inspection took place on 13 July 2017 and was unannounced.

The home provides care and accommodation for five people with mental health needs.

There was a registered manager in place. 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 in January 2015, the service was rated as Good. At this inspection, the service remained Good overall, although the rating for safe changed to Requires Improvement. The service was safe in most aspects, however we did find some discrepancies in relation to stock levels of some medicines. The stock levels of three medicines were incorrect according to the home’s own records. We also found one medicine that had a date written on the packaging that was three years old. We have recommended that the service review systems for recording stock levels.

People told us they felt safe living in the home and there were risk assessments in place to ensure staff had guidance in how to support them safely. There were sufficient numbers of staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. People received a broad range of training and supervision to enable them to carry out their roles effectively.

People were supported by a well established staff team who understood people’s needs well. There was clear information about people’s mental health needs and what support they needed to maintain their wellbeing.

People were independent in most aspects of their daily living; we observed how people carried out tasks such as laundry and ironing. People followed their own routines and were able to go out as they wished. People were supported to follow their own routines and interests and staff supported them in this. People were supported to make complaints if they wished to do so; these were fully investigated.

The home was well led in many aspects. People were positive about the support they received and the team they worked with. There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service provided. This included gathering the views of people in the home.

218 Kingsway provides long term accommodation for up to five people who require personal care. The service supports people with mental health needs.

There was a registered manager for the service. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service and has the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law; as does the provider.

Systems were in place to help to keep people safe. Staff knew how to report abuse if they suspected it. They also understood how to whistleblow if they had concerns about the way the service was run.

People were assisted by enough qualified and experienced staff who effectively met their needs. The risks of unsafe and unsuitable staff being employed were minimised by suitable recruitment practices and procedures. Staff were supported by systems that were in place to ensure they were properly supervised and were able to do their job effectively.

Staff were attentive in approach and caring in manner when they supported people. They demonstrated a good knowledge of peoples’ needs and how to meet them. Care plans included the views of the people they were written about and they were fully involved in planning the care they needed.

People’s rights were upheld and staff knew about the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and how they supported people to make decisions. The requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) were being met. The registered manager and staff knew when an application should be made and how to do this.

People were included and consulted about the care and support they received at the home. There was friendly and warm communication between people who lived at the home and the staff. We met people who lived at the home who were planning with staff what food they planned to buy and prepare that day.This helped to show how people were well supported so that their nutritional needs were met.

People were really well supported to take part in a number of activities. People were proactively included and involved in the way the home was run. We met people who told us how they carried out a range of household tasks and they told us these tasks were their responsibility at the home.

People’s physical health was monitored by staff and they were supported to attend health care appointments when needed.

Staff understood their roles and responsibilities, and they knew what the values and philosophy of the organisation they worked for were. The provider’s key values were to promote independence and provide care in a way that was respectful and centred on the person.

The registered manager monitored the quality of the service and used. Feedback from people was used when required to improve and develop the service.

We spoke with four of the five people who lived at the home to find out what life was like for them there. We asked people their views of the staff who assisted them with needs.

Everyone we spoke with had positive opinions of the care and support they received at the home. One person said, “it’s lovely here”. Another person told us, “it’s brilliant here all the staff are brilliant”. Another comment was "It’s a lovely house it has a friendly atmosphere”.

People who lived at 218 Kingsway were being well supported to live a fulfilling life in the home and the community.

People’s care plans and their risk assessment records set out how to meet their mental health needs and how to keep them safe.

People ate a varied and nutritious diet that was based on their choices and preferences.

The provider had an effective staff recruitment procedure in place which protected people from the risk of unsuitable staff being employed.

The quality of care and overall service people received was checked and monitored to make sure it was safe and suitable. Where improvements were identified action was taken to improve the overall service at the home.

During our visit we spoke with four of the five people who lived at the home. We also spoke with two staff who worked at the home. People told us that they enjoyed living at the home. One person said “It’s a really nice home” another person said “The staff are lovely and always listen to me”.

During the inspection we saw that people gave consent for the care and support they received. We also saw that decisions people made about their care and support were respected by staff at the home.

We saw that people’s needs were assessed and that care plans were put in place which ensured that people’s identified needs were met. Health records confirmed that people were supported to attend appointments with health professionals.

We looked at the way in which the home managed people’s medicines and found that these were managed well. Some people told us that staff gave them their medication on time. Other people told us they looked after their own medication and staff checked if they had taken them.

Staff told us that they were well supported in their roles by the management of the home.

People told us that they knew how to make complaints. We reviewed the complaints records and saw that the home was responding to complaints appropriately.

People who spoke with us were able to discuss their life at the home and what they enjoyed about living there.

People said that they appreciate having their own rooms, and being able to choose how they are decorated. One person told us "I don’t want my room to be decorated I like it how it is”.

One person told us" the staff worry about me if I am late getting back to the house. I think that shows that they care l ".

People told us that they liked living at the home. One person said "It’s like living in a big family".

Two people who use the service told us that they felt safe at the home and that staff are "lovely ".