Brett Vale Residential Homes Limited provides accommodation, care and support for up to nine people. People who live in the service have a range of needs which include learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorder. There were nine people living in the service when we carried out an unannounced inspection on 21 December 2016.

A registered manager was 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 received care and support that was personalised to them and met their individual needs and wishes. Staff respected people’s privacy and dignity and interacted with people in a caring, compassionate and professional manner. They were knowledgeable about people’s choices, views and preferences. The atmosphere was friendly and welcoming with people proudly showing us around their home.

People were safe and staff knew what actions to take to protect them from abuse. The provider had processes in place to identify and manage risk. Assessments had been carried out and care records were in place which reflected individual needs and preferences.

Recruitment checks on staff were carried out with sufficient numbers employed who had the knowledge and skills to meet people’s needs.

Appropriate arrangements were in place to ensure people’s medicines were obtained, stored and administered safely. People were encouraged to attend appointments with other health care professionals to maintain their health and well-being. Where people required assistance with their dietary needs there were systems in place to provide this support safely.

People and or their representatives, where appropriate, were involved in making decisions about their care and support arrangements. As a result people received care and support which was planned and delivered to meet their specific needs. Staff listened to people and acted on what they said.

The service was meeting the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Staff understood the need to obtain consent when providing care. 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.

Consideration had been given to maintaining relationships that were important to people. They were supported with regular opportunities to participate in activities outside the service and to sustain links within their local community.

There was a complaints procedure in place and people knew how to voice their concerns if they were unhappy with the care they received. People’s feedback was valued and acted on. There was visible leadership within the service and a clear management structure. The service had a quality assurance system with identified shortfalls addressed promptly which helped the service to continually improve.

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On the day of our inspection nine people were living in the service. We spoke with six people, all of whom stated that they felt safe and happy at the home. We spent time observing staff assisting people to go about their daily lives. All interactions observed between staff and people living at the home were appropriate, professional and friendly. Staff took care to preserve the dignity and respect of the people. Staff supported several people to go out into the community during our inspection.

The accommodation was appropriately designed and suitable to meet the needs of the people living there and risks within the service had been assessed. The service was clean and was personalised to the people who lived there.

We saw that support plans and risk assessments were informative and up to date. Staff were aware of their contents, which enabled them to deliver appropriate and safe care. The provider had systems in place that ensured the safe receipt, storage, administration and recording of medicines. Staff recruitment, induction and training systems were robust.

We spoke with four people who used the service who told us they were happy living there. One person said, “It is lovely here. I am very happy living here.” Another said, “I like my room it has everything I need.”

We spoke with three members of care staff. Staff spoken with said they felt there was enough staff to meet the needs of the people who used the service. They demonstrated their knowledge of the individual needs of the people they supported.

We observed that the staff interacted with people in a friendly, respectful manner and were attentive to people’s needs.

We viewed care records including care plans. Records were complete, up to date and regularly reviewed.

The people living in Brett Vale Residential Homes Limited told us that they liked living there, that the care staff showed them respect and protected their dignity. They also told us that they were comfortable in the service. One person told us that the service had helped them prepare to live in the community in their own home and that they hoped to get their own flat in the near future.