This unannounced inspection took place on 11 October 2016. Ashring House is a care home registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to six adults with learning disabilities. At the time of our inspection the home was providing care and support to five people.

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.

The previous inspection of the service took place in December 2013. The service met all the regulations we checked at that time.

People, their relatives and healthcare professionals were happy about the quality of care and support provided to people at the service.

The registered manager assessed and reviewed risks to the health and safety of people using the service. Staff followed guidance in place to manage the risks safely. Staff knew how to protect people from possible abuse and harm. They understood the provider’s safeguarding adults policies and procedures to follow if they had any concerns of abuse to keep people safe. Staff managed, administered and stored people’s medicines safely.

The provider ensured premises were safe and maintenance work carried out and completed. Staff knew the provider’s arrangements in place to deal with an emergency at the service. Staff maintained records of accidents and incidents involving people and the action taken to minimise the risk of a recurrence.

The provider used robust recruitment practices and deployed suitably vetted staff to work at the service. There were sufficient and appropriate numbers of staff working to meet people’s needs.

New staff were appropriately inducted into the service and their role. Staff had the skills and knowledge to meet people’s needs. The registered manager supported staff in their roles through regular supervisions and ensured they received training that enabled them to fulfil their roles.

Staff sought and received people’s consent to care and treatment. Staff understood and supported people in line with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. The service met the legal requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

People received sufficient food which met their dietary needs and preferences. People received appropriate support to access specialist advice and treatment in relation to their health needs.

Staff treated people with respect and upheld their privacy and dignity. Staff provided people’s care and support in a caring and compassionate manner.

People had their support and care needs assessed and care plans had information about the support they required and how it staff should provide the care. People and their relatives were involved in the planning of people’s care. People and their relatives contributed to reviewing the support people needed and received input from staff and healthcare professionals involved in their care. People received support as planned and which met their individual needs.

People were supported to maintain relationships with relatives and friends. People took part in activities they enjoyed. Staff encouraged them to try new things based on their individual interests, hobbies, preferences and abilities.

The service sought people’s views about their care and support and acted on their feedback. People knew how to make a complaint.

People, their relatives and staff said the registered manager was approachable. The registered manager used the audit systems in place to effectively monitor and evaluate the care and support people received.

We sampled two care files and found these contained personal likes and dislikes and preferences. Therefore making care plans more individualised. We noted there had been an initial assessment of care needs when an individual had first arrived at the home.

When we spoke with visitors in the home, we were told: "the staff are lovely" and "my relative has thrived since they have lived in here".

We found people's nutritional needs were being met and supported.

We noted warm and respectful interaction between people who lived at the care home and staff who supported them. We observed that the environment was clean, bright and well decorated using art work of people who lived there and photographs documenting enjoyable shared activities and holidays. This meant that people were well supported and the environment was safe, suitable and homely.

One person told us about their active life in the community including independent shopping trips "to buy things for myself". We examined care planning and health and safety records which showed that care being delivered was effective and that the environment was safe and well maintained.

Staff were only employed following a structured recruitment and interview process and relevant checks were carried out prior to them starting work.

During our visit we saw that people were being treated with dignity and respect and people’s independence was encouraged. People were spoken to in a respectful way. We observed staff who were polite, friendly and warm and that people's privacy was respected whilst they were supported to maintain as much independence as possible. A family member told us that they were 'totally satisfied with the service' and that 'staff are very good'.

We saw that people experienced safe and effective care based on detailed care plans and risk assessments that met individual needs.

People using the service were protected from abuse as they were supported by a staff team who had appropriate knowledge and training on safeguarding adults.

Staff received ongoing training and supervision which provided them with the skills and knowledge to meet the needs of the people they were supporting.

The Provider had effective systems in place to monitor and assess the quality of the service.

Observation throughout the visit demonstrated that staff promoted choices and encouraged independence through enablement.

Residents were seen to have a warm and comfortable relationship with staff who they were happy to engage with.