We carried out this inspection on 5 October 2017. The inspection was unannounced. This meant no-one at the service knew we were planning to visit.

This was the service’s first inspection since their registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in April 2016.

Bowden Lodge provides care for people requiring support with their mental health needs. The service provides care, support, and accommodation for up to 16 people who require personal care without nursing. The service is situated in Sheffield and there is easy access to the city by public transport and all of the facilities available in Sheffield and surrounding areas. At the time of our inspection there were 15 people living at Bowden Lodge.

There was a registered manager employed at the service. 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 registered manager and general manager had a good oversight of the service and were experienced in their roles. People and staff told us they were supportive and approachable.

People were supported by staff who knew them well. Staff we spoke with were enthusiastic about their jobs, and showed care and understanding both for the people they supported and their colleagues.

There were enough staff to ensure people’s care and support needs were met. The service had robust recruitment procedures to make sure staff had the required skills and were of suitable character and background.

Staff were confident about how to protect people from harm and what they would do if they had any safeguarding concerns. They were confident any concerns would be taken seriously by management.

Medicines were stored safely and securely, and procedures were in place to ensure people received their medicines as prescribed.

The registered manager, general manager, and staff were aware of the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and what this meant in practice.

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

Staff were supported through training, regular supervisions and team meetings to help them carry out their roles effectively.

People were encouraged and supported to eat regular and balanced meals.

Care records showed people received appropriate input from health and social care professionals, such as psychiatrists and social workers to ensure they received the care and support they needed.

Staff we spoke with understood what it meant to treat people with dignity and respect. We saw people were treated with dignity and respect throughout this inspection.

People’s care records reflected the person’s current health and social care needs. Care records contained up to date risk assessments. There were systems in place for care records to be regularly reviewed.

There was a range of activities on offer to people living Bowden Lodge.

There was a comprehensive complaints policy and procedure. This was clearly displayed in the main corridor and copies were held on people’s care records.

There were effective systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided.

The service had up to date policies and procedures which reflected current legislation and good practice guidance.

Safety and maintenance checks for the premises and equipment were in place and up to date.