Beech Trees provides accommodation, personal care and support for up to seven adults who have a learning disability, autism, mental health needs and/or a physical disability. There were seven people living at the home at the time of our inspection.

There was a registered manager in place. 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 were safe because staff understood any risks involved in their care and took action to minimise these risks. The rota was planned to ensure there were sufficient staff to keep people safe and meet their needs. Staff understood their roles in keeping people safe and protecting them from abuse. The provider carried out appropriate pre-employment checks before staff started work.

Medicines were managed safely. Accidents and incidents were recorded and reviewed to ensure any measures that could prevent a recurrence had been implemented. Staff maintained appropriate standards of fire safety. The provider had developed plans to ensure people would continue to receive care in the event of an emergency.

People’s care was provided by staff who knew their needs well and provided support in a consistent way. Staff had access to the induction, training and support they needed to do their jobs. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were supported to eat food they enjoyed and were encouraged to maintain a healthy diet. Staff were aware of any dietary restrictions involved in people’s care. People’s healthcare needs were monitored and they were supported to obtain treatment if they needed it. People who had ongoing conditions were supported to see specialist healthcare professionals regularly.

People enjoyed living at the home and had developed positive relationships with staff and their housemates. Staff treated people with respect and maintained their privacy and dignity. People were encouraged to be independent and were supported by staff to learn and develop new skills.

People had access to activities they enjoyed and had opportunities to enjoy an active social life.

There were appropriate procedures for managing complaints and people were confident they would be listened to if they had any concerns. One relative had an unresolved complaint at the time of our inspection. The relative was dissatisfied with the provider's response to their complaint and had escalated their concerns. The provider was in dialogue with the relative and other agencies to work towards a resolution.

The service was well led, with an open and inclusive culture. People and staff said the registered manager was approachable and supportive. Staff shared important information about people’s needs effectively. Team meetings were used to ensure staff were providing consistent care that reflected best practice.

The provider’s quality monitoring checks ensured people received safe and effective care. Staff worked co-operatively with other professionals to ensure people received the care and treatment they needed. Records were well organised and up to date.