About the service: Beechwood is a small care home providing care for up to five adults with learning disabilities. The home is a bungalow and there are five single bedrooms on the ground floor. At the time of our inspection, there were five people living at Beechwood. For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

People’s experience of using this service:

Relatives told us they felt their loved ones were safe at Beechwood, and staff were aware of their responsibilities in safeguarding people from abuse. Risks to people were recorded and managed appropriately. There were a sufficient number of staff to meet people’s needs, and medicines were recorded correctly and administrated safely.

People’s rights were protected in line with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Staff were up to date with training and received supervision on a regular basis. The design of the building was suitable for people’s needs. Staff felt that the communication within the service was effective, and people were referred to healthcare professionals where required.

Relatives told us staff were extremely kind and caring, and we observed friendly interactions between people and staff. People were involved in decisions around their care and were encouraged to be independent as much as possible. People’s dignity and privacy was respected, with personal care and conversations taking place behind closed doors.

There were a wide range of activities available which helped people live fulfilled lives. The service had not received any complaints, but there was a policy around this in place for people and relatives if required. Although people were young adults, the service had considered and recorded their end of life wishes.

Staff felt supported by various levels of management within the service. Robust quality checks allowed the service to identify and resolve any issues or improvements. People and staff were engaged in the running of the service and asked for feedback regularly. The service had strong working partnerships with a range of organisations, and had plans in place to improve the garden.

Rating at last inspection: At the last inspection the service was rated Good (report published on 28 September 2016)

Why we inspected: This was a planned fully comprehensive inspection to confirm the service remained Good.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor all information received about the service to ensure the next planned inspection is scheduled accordingly.

The inspection took place on 13 August 2016 and was announced. The provider (Voyage 1 Limited) was given 24 hours’ notice because the location was a small residential service for people with learning disabilities who might have needed preparation for our visit. The service supported people with autistic spectrum disorders, and people with visual and auditory impairment and additional health needs such as epilepsy.

Beechwood is a large bungalow. There were shared bathrooms, a communal kitchen and a communal lounge. There was an outside garden area. Access to the bungalow was step free and accessible for wheelchairs.

The service had 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.

People’s quality of life had improved under the leadership of the registered manager. Staff and relatives all described the management in exceptional terms. Staff talked positively about their jobs and their shared commitment to people achieving their best. The leadership at the home had led to great improvements in the past 14 months, care was based on best practice and the staff team highly motivated to achieve excellent care. The registered manager was proactive and determined, they ensured effective and close monitoring of all aspects of the service to ensure ongoing improvement across all areas.

On the day of the inspection staff within the service were relaxed, there was a calm and friendly atmosphere. Everybody had a clear role within the service. Information we requested was supplied promptly, records were organised, clear, easy to follow and comprehensive.

People had limited verbal communication but we observed they felt comfortable with staff, were warm, tactile and engaged in their interactions with staff. Care records were personalised and gave people control over all aspects of their lives. Staff responded quickly to people’s change in needs. People or where appropriate those who mattered to them, were involved in regularly reviewing their needs and how they would like to be supported. People’s preferences were identified and respected.

Staff put people at the heart of their work; they exhibited a kind and compassionate attitude towards people. Strong relationships had been developed and practice was person focused and not task led. Staff had appreciation of how to respect people’s individual needs around their privacy and dignity.

People’s risks were managed well and monitored. People were promoted to live full and active lives. Staff were highly motivated and creative in finding ways to overcome obstacles that restricted people’s independence.

People had their medicines managed safely. People received their medicines as prescribed, received them on time and understood what they were for. People were supported to maintain good health through regular access to health and social care professionals, such as GPs, social workers, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.

People we observed were safe. The environment was uncluttered and clear for people to move freely around the home, equipment was well maintained and outings to external venues risk assessed. Staff discreetly monitored people’s behaviour and interactions to ensure the safety of all the people and staff at the service. All staff had undertaken training on safeguarding vulnerable adults from abuse, they displayed good knowledge on how to report any concerns and described what action they would take to protect people against harm. Staff told us they felt confident any incidents or allegations would be fully investigated.

People were supported by staff that confidently made use of their knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act (2005), to make sure people we