Birtenshaw is based in the Bromley Cross area of Bolton. Birtenshaw provides a wide range of services for children and adults with a learning disabilities including Autism Spectrum Conditions, and or/significant physical disabilities, including complex health care needs.

Part of the service provided care and support for adults in supported living tenancies. 123 Darwen Road is an adapted property where there were four male service users who are tenants sharing the house.

This announced inspection took place on 13 & 19 April 2017. We last inspected this service on 25 July 2015. At that inspection we found the services to be meeting the requirements in the areas inspected.

At the inspection on 13 April 2017 the service did not have a registered manager in post. The manager at the service had started the process in applying to register as the manager. 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.

Staffing provision was satisfactory to ensure the needs of the service users were met. Staffing numbers were looked at on a daily basis to ensure that appointments and trips and planned activities were covered.

We saw that the service had a robust recruitment procedure and staff undertook a thorough induction programme before commencing work. Training was on-going and included refresher courses for essential training and any specialist training required.

Staff were aware of the local safeguarding policy and procedures and knew how to recognise record and report any concerns.

Health and safety measures were in place and up to date. Systems were in place in relation to ordering, storage, administration and disposal of medicines.

Care plans included a range of health and personal information to ensure that the needs of the service users were supported.

With the help of staff, the young men helped plan and prepare a wide variety of healthy meals and snacks.

Each service user had their own bedroom and communal bathrooms were on both floors..

The service was working within the legal requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) (MCA).

We observed staff interacting in a kind and friendly manner throughout the day, there was a good relationship observed between staff the service users..

People’s privacy and dignity was respected and we saw that the staff promoted independence as much as possible.

Care plans were person-centred and included information about people’s likes and dislikes, interests, family backgrounds and personalities.

There were a wide range of activities on offer for the young men to participate in. Some had their own mobility cars.

Systems were in place for dealing with complaints and concerns.

The service had good links with the local community, which helped people who used the service to mix and integrate with the community.

A number of quality audits and checks were carried out by the service.