What life is like for people using this service:

• People said they felt safe at the home. Risks to people’s health, safety and welfare had been identified and were known by staff. Risk assessments relating to the environment were in place to keep people safe. Staffing levels were appropriate to meet the needs of the people using the service. People told us they thought the home was well-staffed. The registered manager put extra staff on duty where necessary, for example if people were unwell. Medicines were safely managed. The home was clean, tidy and fresh. There were systems in place to monitor incidents and accidents and learn from these.

• People’s care, health and cultural needs were identified so staff could meet these. The staff were skilled and competent and knew the people they supported well. People said they liked the food served and had a choice of English and Indian dishes. People were supported to maintain good health and referred to health professionals when required. The design and decoration of the home suited people’s needs. Staff worked within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and ensured people consented to their care.

• The staff were caring and kind. They talked with people in a supportive way and reassured them when necessary. People told us they liked living at the home and had good relationships with the managers and staff. People and their relatives were regularly asked for their views on the care provided. Staff respected people and treated them with dignity and respect.

• People received good quality care and support. Care plans were written from the perspective of the person using the service and set out how staff should meet their needs. The multicultural, multilingual staff team were knowledgeable about people’s cultural needs. Managers and staff ensured information was provided to people in an accessible format. People took part in a range of group and one-to-one activities depending on their preferences. People said they knew how to make a complaint if needed.

• People told us the home was well managed and had an open and friendly culture. The managers and staff were approachable and helpful. Staff said the home had a family atmosphere and they felt well-supported by the managers. The home’s audit system covered all aspects of the service and helped to ensure the care people received was safe and the environment fit for purpose and well-maintained. People were involved in how the home was run on a one-to-one level, at meetings, and through quality assurance questionnaires. Managers and staff worked in partnership with other agencies to ensure people got the care and support they needed.

For more information please see the Detailed Findings below.

Our last inspection report for this service was published on 18 May 2016 and the rating was ‘Good’.

Bodnant House is a residential care service providing personal care and support for up to 10 younger and older adults living with learning disabilities, autistic spectrum disorders, mental health needs, and sensory impairments. At the time of our inspection there were nine people using the service.

This was a scheduled inspection based on the service’s previous rating.

This was an unannounced inspection that took place on 7 April 2016.

Bodnant House is a residential care service providing personal care and support for up to 10 younger and older adults living with learning disabilities, autistic spectrum disorders, mental health needs, and sensory impairments.

The premises are on three floors, all bedrooms are single, and there is a lounge and a separate dining room on the ground floor. There is a secluded garden at the rear of the home. At the time of our inspection there were seven people using the service.

The service did not have a registered manager. This 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. At the time of our inspection the manager had applied to become registered with CQC and their application was being processed.

Bodnant House had a lively, friendly atmosphere. The people who lived there came in and out of the premises with staff on various errands. We observed plenty of interaction between the people using the service, relatives, staff, the managers, and the provider. Everyone seemed to get on well and was sociable. Bodnant House was to be a homely place where group living was working well and people were happy and settled.

All the people using the service and relatives we spoke with said the staff were caring and kind.

Staff took an interest in the people they supported and encouraged them to develop their hobbies and interests. They talked, ate, and did activities with them. People were also encouraged to be independent and to get involved in the day to day running of the home. One relative told us this had given their family member a sense of responsibility which was positive for them as it improved their self-esteem.

People told us they felt safe at the service and relatives also said they thought their family members were safe. One relative said their family member had been at risk of harm prior to coming to the service but was now safe. Staff were trained in safeguarding and knew what to do if they had concerns about any of the people using the service. Risks were safely managed because staff enabled people to do what they wanted to do with measures in place to help ensure they remained safe.

There were enough staff on duty to keep people safe and meet their needs. The staff employed had the right skills and experience to work with the people using the service. People had their medicines safely and at the right time. We observed that staff knew the people they supported well and worked confidently with them. They were knowledgeable about people’s day to day needs and knew their likes, dislikes, and how they preferred to be supported.

People using the service and relatives said the food was good and included both English and Indian dishes. People chose what they ate and helped in the kitchen if they wanted to. Staff were aware of people’s likes and dislikes and any cultural requirements they might have with regards to their diets.

Staff supported people them to maintain good health and access healthcare services if they needed to. They understood where people might be at risk of poor health and what they needed to do to address this. They accompanied people to the doctor or to other healthcare appointments when necessary. Staff encouraged people to lead a healthy lifestyle by encouraging them to eat well, exercise, and take care of themselves.

People using the service were involved in how it was run. They were asked for their views and suggestions at regular house meetings held every one to two months, and during reviews and meetings with staff. The manager also spoke with them on a daily basis, as did the provider when he visited, to check they were satisfied with the service. Annual surveys