This inspection took place on 23 July 2018 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a service for people who may be out during the day, we needed to be sure that someone would be in. At our last inspection on 30 December 2015 and 14 January 2016 we rated the service 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.

Ashness House 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. Ashness house provides care and support for up to five men with mental health needs. At the time of our inspection there were five men were using the service.

There was a registered manager at the service at the time of our inspection. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People told us they felt safe with staff and there were enough staff to meet their needs. Staff were trained in safeguarding and knew how to safeguard people against harm and abuse. People’s risk assessments were completed, regularly reviewed and gave sufficient information to staff on how to provide safe care. Staff kept detailed records of people’s accidents and incidents. Staff wore appropriate protection equipment to prevent the risk of spread of infection. Medicines were stored and administered safely however we have made a recommendation about the management of some medicines. The home environment was clean.

Staff undertook training and received regular supervision to help support them to provide effective care. Staff we spoke with had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). MCA and DoLS is legislation protecting people who are unable to make decisions for themselves or whom the state has decided need to be deprived of their liberty in their best interest. We saw people had choices about their life. The service was well decorated and adapted to meet the needs of people using the service.

People told us that they were well treated and the staff were caring. We found that care records were in place which included information about how to meet a person’s individual and assessed needs. People’s cultural and religious needs were respected when planning and delivering care. Discussions with staff members showed that they respected people’s sexual orientation so that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people could feel accepted and welcomed in the service. People had access to a wide variety of activities.

The service had not recorded exploring people’s wishes for end of life care. We have made a recommendation about involving people in decisions about their end of life care.

The service had a complaints procedure in place and people knew how to make a complaint.

Staff told us the registered manager was supportive. The service had various effective quality assurance and monitoring mechanisms in place.

We spoke with one person who used the service and reviewed three people’s care records. We also talked with the manager and a member of staff. We checked the staff rota and other documents such as policies and procedures relating to the service.

We noted that people’s care plans were regularly reviewed and there was evidence that people who used the service and professionals were involved. The manager maintained a close working relationship with professionals. This ensured that people’s health and social care needs were reviewed and people’s needs were met.

People who used the service were happy about the service and one person told us that they were "extremely happy" living at the home. People talked positively about staff and they felt that there were sufficient numbers of staff. People who used the service stated that they were satisfied with the arrangements put in place relating to the provision of meals at the home. They indicated they could choose the food they wanted.

We noted that the effective staff recruitment procedures were in place. People’s records and staff files were stored securely at the home.

We spoke with four of the five people using the service.

One described the home as “very good” and said that it was “fantastic here.” Another said he felt “extremely safe” at the home. One person described Ashness House as “one of the best care homes in the world.”

People said they felt safe, staff treated them well and they enjoyed an annual holiday together.

People said they enjoyed going out with staff. One person said "if we had more staff we'd go out more."

This inspection took place on two days; 30 December 2015 and 14 January 2016 and was unannounced.

The previous inspection was in November 2013 and we found the home was meeting all the standards inspected at that time.

Ashness House is a care home registered to provide care and accommodation to five people with mental health needs. There were three men living in the home at the time of our inspection. Each person had a single room with an ensuite bathroom and shared a kitchen, dining room and lounge. This home accommodated men only.

The home had two registered managers. One of them worked full time at the home and the other, a director of the company Ashness Care Ltd, worked across their two care homes and supported living services. The registered manager we refer to throughout this report works full time at Ashness House.

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.

This home aims to increase people’s independence skills. Since the last inspection two people had progressed on to less supported accommodation after developing their shopping, budgeting, cooking and self-medication skills whilst living at this home.

People told us that there were enough staff to meet their needs during the day and night.

Staff were trained in safeguarding people. Each person had a risk assessment and risk management plan. People were supported to make decisions about their care and lifestyles and to attend health care appointments when needed. Staff received support and supervision in their role. They were able to provide personalised support to three people who had very different needs.

People were offered the opportunity to undertake a range of activities of their choice, but their decisions were respected if they chose not to. Two people were going out regularly with staff support to go shopping, walking and to exercise classes. All three people said they were very happy with the service provided at the home and liked all the staff. People knew how to make a complaint and felt comfortable raising any concerns with staff if they were unhappy.

There were quality assurance systems in place for the service, and people felt supported by the home’s management.