We inspected the service on 18 October 2018. The inspection was unannounced. 46 Derby Road is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The service accommodates three people and on the day of our inspection three 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.

At our last inspection on 1 March 2016 we rated the service ‘good.’ At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of ‘good’. 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.

There was a registered manager. 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. The registered manager was visible and approachable in the home. They worked with the provider to ensure that the quality of people’s care was monitored and improved.

People continued to receive care in a way that maintained their safety but promoted their independence. Staff were confident in the action that they should take if they were concerned people may be at risk. The provider ensured that sufficient numbers of staff that had been subject to pre-employment checks were deployed in the home. Accidents and incidents were analysed for trends by the registered manager and provider and lessons learnt to reduce instances of accidents or incidents occurring again.

People’s needs were assessed by staff that were supported by regular supervision and had access to the training they needed to equip them with the skills to provide personalised care. People were supported to eat and drink enough and their health and well being was promoted by staff who worked openly with other professionals involved in their care.

People were protected under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.

Staff knew people well and people were treated with respect and compassion. People were supported to have control over the care they received and detailed plans of care had been developed to provide guidance for staff in providing personalised care and support.

There was an open and transparent and person-centred culture with visible and effective leadership.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

This inspection was unannounced and took place on 1 March 2016. The service was registered to provide accommodation for three people. At the time of our inspection three people were using the service.

There was a registered manager in post. 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 told us they felt safe and staff knew how to recognise and report any concerns. The staff had received training to maintain their knowledge and skills in line with their roles and responsibilities. There was a consistent staff team who knew people well. People had risk assessments in place to reflect their individual needs, maintaining their independence and safety. There were sufficient staff to support the needs of the people. People lived full and active lives. The registered manager ensured an on-going review of staffing took place reflect the changing needs of the people who used the service and support them in the activities they wanted to pursue. People received their medicines safely and there were checks to ensure appropriate recording and storage.

We found staff had an understanding of mental capacity and what that meant for people who used the service. The provider ensured that people had been involved in their care planning and where necessary best interest decisions had been made. People felt they received a good choice of food and their individual preferences were considered in the menu planning. Referrals to health care professionals were completed in a timely manner to ensure people’s health care was maintained.

The staff had developed positive relationships with people and they knew about their life and daily choices. People who used the service told us they felt their privacy and dignity was respected, and they were able to do the things they wanted to do.

The registered manager had a range of auditing systems which reflected the continuous development of the care being provided. People told us they were happy to raise any concerns. Staff felt well supported by the registered manager in their roles, responsibilities and development.