86 London Road provides accommodation and care for five people who have a learning disability. The five people living at the service on the day of our inspection had lived in the service for some years. The premises are a two storey residential style house in keeping with the other houses in the area. There is parking to the front and an accessible garden to the rear for people’s use.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good and was meeting the fundamental standards.

At the time of this inspection a registered manager was not in post. A manager had registered with the commission since the last inspection and had since left the service. The current manager was in the process of making an application for registration with the commission as required. 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 service was safe. Staff were knowledgeable about identifying abuse and how to report it to safeguard people. Recruitment procedures were satisfactory. Detailed risk assessments were in place for people using the service to support their safety. There were also processes in place to manage any risks in relation to the running of the service. Staff deployment was suitable for people’s needs and people’s medicines were safely managed.

The service was effective. People were supported by experienced staff to have choice and control of their lives. Staff supported people in the least restrictive way possible; the practices and systems in the service supported this approach. People were supported to maintain good health and nutrition and they had access to healthcare services.

The service was caring. We saw friendly, caring and supportive interactions between staff and people and staff knew the needs and preferences of the people using the service. People’s dignity, privacy and independence was respected. Relationships were supported and relatives felt welcomed.

The service was responsive. People’s care needs had been assessed with them and they received the flexible support they needed from the service. Care plans were person centred and reflected what was important to the person. The service had a complaints policy in place and people felt able to complain if they needed to.

The service was well-led. The service had a positive open culture. The manager and the provider had systems in place to check on the quality and safety of the service provided and to put action plans in place where needed.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

People who were able to speak with us told us that they were content and well cared for at 86 London Road. Those who were less able to express their views were relaxed, appeared well cared for and had a good rapport with staff at the service.

We found that 86 London Road provided a well maintained, comfortable and homely place for people to live. People had their own rooms which were personalised to their own tastes.

We saw that care and treatment for each person was planned and reviewed with their involvement and consent as far as possible. Risks to the health, welfare and safety of people using the service were identified and managed.

People's medicines were managed safely by competent staff. Good records were maintained but we found that minor improvements could be made to enhance the systems already in place. We saw that people were supported well when taking their medicines. Staff took their time with people and ensured their privacy.

We found that staff were adequately trained and well supported to care for people properly and to keep them safe. The service did however need to ensure that training updates were arranged in a timely manner to ensure that staff practice and understanding was always up to date.

People were able to express their views about the service and had access to a complaints process.

Overall we found 86 London Road was providing a safe, caring, responsive, effective and well led service to people.

This is a home that provides accommodation for five adults with learning disabilities. On the day of our visit we met with two of the people that live in this home. They invited us to view their recently decorated bedrooms. They both were involved in the decoration and furniture chosen for their rooms. Each room had personal possessions that reflected their personal interests.

The staff were seen to be kind and caring. They responded to requests for support and encouraged independence as much s possible. The people living here can access a range of activities both inside the home and in the wider community. Staff said they are constantly looking for opportunities that could be included in the daily activities.

This home had a friendly relaxed atmosphere and the people we spoke to said they were ''Happy'' and ''Liked living here''.

People that use the service told us that they felt well treated. They told us that meetings had taken place and that they discussed how the home was being run. One person told us that they loved football and that they went to it every week.

People said that the staff always listened to what they had to say. They told us that staff regularly asked if the help they were given was right for them. People said that staff went with them on their health visits and they told us that the staff helped them to keep healthy.

People said that they felt safe living in 86 London Road. They told us that the staff treated them well and that they were always there when they needed them. People were very relaxed and happy in the company of staff.

People told us that the staff helped them with their medication and that they were happy with this. They told us that they liked their rooms. They said that they had chosen their own furnishings.

People that use the service told us that they liked the staff and that they knew what they had to do to support them. They said that regular meetings had been held where they discussed how the home was run. They told us that the staff always asked them what they wanted and how they wanted things done.

This inspection took place on 4 and 5 November 2015.

86 London Road is registered to provide accommodation with personal care for five people who have a learning disability. There were five people living at the service on the day of our inspection.

The manager was in the process of making application to be registered as manager of this service. 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.

Staff were knowledgeable about identifying abuse and how to report it to safeguard people. Recruitment procedures were thorough. Risk management plans were in place to support people to have as much independence as possible while keeping them safe. There were also processes in place to manage any risks in relation to the running of the service.

Medicines were safely stored, recorded and administered in line with current guidance to ensure people received their prescribed medicines to meet their needs. People had support to access healthcare professionals and services. People had choices of food and drinks that supported their nutritional or health care needs and their personal preferences.

People were supported by skilled staff who knew them well and were available in sufficient numbers to meet people's needs effectively. People’s dignity and privacy was respected and they found the staff to be friendly and caring. People were supported to participate in social activities including community based outings.

Staff used their training effectively to support people. The manager understood and complied with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the associated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Staff were aware of their role in relation to MCA and DoLS and how to support people so not to place them at risk of being deprived of their liberty.

People received personalised care and staff knew them well. Relationships between people, relatives and staff were positive. Staff were caring and responsive. Care plans were clear, provided staff with guidance and were reviewed regularly. People and their relatives were involved in planning and reviewing their care.

The service was well led; people knew the manager and found them to be approachable and available in the home. People living and working in the service had the opportunity to say how they felt about the home and the service it provided. Their views were listened to and actions were taken in response. The provider and manager had systems in place to check on the quality and safety of the service provided.