This unannounced inspection took place on 7 December 2016. Autism and Aspergers Care Services Ltd provides personal care and accommodation for up to three people with a learning disability. Three people were using the service at the time of the inspection.

There was a registered manager in post at the time of this 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The previous inspection of the service took place on 3 October 2013. The service met all the regulations we checked at that time.

People received safe care and support. Staff understood the types of abuse and neglect which could happen to people and their responsibility to report any concerns to protect them. Staff assessed risks to people’s health and safety and had support plans in place to keep them as safe as possible. Accident and incident records were analysed to minimise recurrence of injury to people. There were enough staff deployed at the service to meet people’s needs. The provider carried out robust recruitment checks to ensure staff were suitable to support people. People received their medicines safely when they needed them. Staff were trained in the safe management of medicines.

People were supported by staff suitable for their role. Staff received induction and relevant training to the needs of the people they supported. Staff had the skills and knowledge to meet people’s needs. Staff were supported in their roles and received regular supervision to monitor their performance.

Staff followed the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 where people did not have the capacity to understand or consent to a decision about their care. Staff sought people’s consent before they provided care. Staff supported people in line with their preferences and wishes. Staff complied with the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards to ensure each person’s rights were protected.

People accessed the health and care services they needed. People had sufficient food and drink which met their preferences. People received specialist diets appropriate for their dietary requirements.

People said staff were kind and caring. Staff were respectful of people’s dignity and privacy. People looked relaxed and happy around staff. People could have visitors from family and friends whenever they wanted and were supported to visit relatives when they wished to do so.

Staff understood what was important to people and worked closely with them and their relatives to ensure each person led a meaningful and enjoyable life. Staff supported people’s participation in the community. People received the support they required to maintain contact with family and friends.

Staff assessed people’s needs and had support plans which showed how people wanted their care provided. Care plans showed individual preferences of people including their health needs and goals. People contributed to the reviewing of the support they needed and received input from relatives where appropriate and healthcare professionals involved in their care. People received support and care which met their individual needs.

People, their relatives and staff described the registered manager as approachable and open to ideas and feedback. People and their relativ

We spent time talking to two people who lived in the home, we spoke with two staff members and looked at some records. People using the service told us "I am very happy here." and "Staff help me to do what I want to do."

We found that people using the service and their representatives were involved in decisions about the care and treatment they received. Care plans were detailed and person centred. We examined the systems and processes in place for the safe management and administration of medicines and found these to be effective. We saw evidence of robust quality assurance processes to gather information about the safety and quality of the service.

People’s needs were assessed and they were consulted and involved in the planning of their care plans and service delivery.

We saw staff listening to people who used the service and responding to them in a polite and courteous way, we also saw that staff supported and gently encouraged people to participate in their planned activities for that day. One person told us"the staff help me to do my shopping and cooking which helps me to manage my diet."

Staff we spoke to told us that they received regular supervision and that the senior team are available for advice and support. they also told us the senior staff are approachable and very supportive. We saw that staff received regular training appropriate to the needs of the people they support and that staff were knowledgeable about the needs of the people who used the service.

There are sufficient numbers of staff on duty at any one time to meet the needs of the people who used the service. In addition to this the manager has the flexibility to be available to work shifts and or support people who use the service to attend appointments and activities when required.

We saw that people who used the service were able to attend regular group meetings where they were able to put forward their views or concerns regarding a variety of topics such as, menu planning, group social events, the running of the home.

We spent time talking with two of the three people living at the home at the time of our visit. Both these individuals told us that they were very happy living at the home. They said that they got on well with staff and that they enjoyed the residents’ meetings which were held every week. Both people told us about the wide range of activities that they had participated in and the new skills that they had learnt since we last visited the service.