3a The Droveway is a 'care home.' People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

3a The Droveway is registered to support up to three people with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. At the time of the inspection there were two people living at the home. The home provided personal care and support to two men who were in their twenties. The service offered specialist support for people with autism. Both people had associated complex needs, communication and sensory difficulties and behaviour that could be challenging to others. The service had been developed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support guidance 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 other citizen.

At the last inspection on 12 August 2015, the service was rated as good in the areas of Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The service was rated as requires improvement in the area of Safe but the overall rating for the service was Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the overall rating of Good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and on-going monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

This comprehensive inspection took place on 12 February 2018 and was announced. We gave the registered manager 48 hours notice of the inspection because the home is small and we needed to be sure that there would be someone in when we visited.There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with CQC to manage a 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 service had improved and people were receiving their medicines safely. Risks had been identified and there were clear plans in place to guide staff in how to support people safely. Staff understood their responsibilities with regard to safeguarding people. Infection control measures were effective and incidents and accidents were monitored and used to inform improvements. A relative told us that they felt their relation was “definitely safe.”

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 had received the training and support they needed to be effective in their roles. People were supported to have enough to eat and drink and staff ensured people could access the health care services they needed. The premises had been altered to meet the needs of the people living at the home.

Assessments were holistic and supported staff to provide care in a personalised way. Staff knew people well and understood how to communicate with them. People were comfortable in the presence of staff. People were supported to make choices and to express their views. A relative told us that they believed their relation was happy and that staff were kind and caring. Staff treated people with respect and spoke of their achievements with pride and admiration. People’s privacy was respected and staff supported people to be as independent as possible.

Staff were responsive to people’s needs, recognised small changes and understood the importance of maintaining a consistent approach with the people they were supporting. Staff described how maintaining consistency had h

The inspection took place on 12 August and was unannounced.

3a The Droveway is a care home that offers accommodation for two people. It provided personal care and support to two men who were in their twenties. The service offered specialist support for people with autism. Both people had associated complex needs, communication and sensory difficulties and behaviour that could challenge the service.

The service had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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.

We observed a medication error during our inspection. Medication was signed as given when it had not. We were told by the registered manager that there had not been a recent medicine error but that our observation highlighted a need to re-evaluate current practice in the service. We have identified this as an area of practice that required improvement.

We saw people were supported by staff who knew them well, gave them individual attention and were confident to meet their sometimes complex additional needs. Risks to people safety were assessed and guidance provided clear guidance for staff to follow.

People relatives and health and social care professionals spoke positively of the service. They were complimentary about the caring, positive nature of the staff. We were told, “I feel staff knowledge of [my relative] is good. I think it is the best place for him.” Staff respected people’s privacy and dignity and their individual preferences. Our own observations and the records we looked at reflected the positive comments people made.

Staff and the provider were knowledgeable about the Mental Capacity Act 2005. They were aware this legislation protected the rights of people who lacked capacity to make decisions about their care and welfare.

Staff received training to support them with their role on a continuous basis to ensure they could meet people’s needs effectively. The training records we saw demonstrated that staff had completed a range of training and learning to support them in their work and to keep them up to date with current practice and legislation.

People received regular assessments of their needs and any identified risks. Records were maintained in relation to people’s healthcare, for example when people were supported with GP appointments. Feedback from a healthcare professional with knowledge of the service said, “The staff appear to be very attentive and caring and act in the best interest of the patient.”

The provider was committed to the on-going improvement of the service and had completed a major restructure of the layout of the service to increase opportunities for individual living. The registered manager was transparent, honest and dedicated to the continuous improvement of the service.

Peoples relatives, staff and professionals who knew the service spoke positively about the registered manager and said they led by example. The relative of one person told us, “They are very good. They do the right thing for [my relative],” a member of staff said, ““The management are amazing. They have time for you and are respectful.”

During our inspection we met with one person who uses the service, the senior support worker and two support workers. We spoke later with two family members of the people that live at the service. The people that we spoke with told us they were very happy with the service and care at 3a The Droveway. One person told us "The staff are wonderful and provide very attentive care.” Another person said of their relative “He’s definitely happy. There are only the two residents there and it tries to meet his needs.”

We saw that they had appropriate systems and policies in place in respect of cleanliness and infection control. The property appeared clean and well maintained.

We found that people received support and care that met their individual needs from friendly, knowledgeable and professional support staff. We spoke with people who were very positive about their experiences of the support offered. The comments we received included, “I wish I had worked here years ago, it’s very much a positive experience and the service users are such lovely young people.”

There were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff to meet people’s needs.

The provider had systems in place to gain and review consent from people who used the service. We saw that people were involved in their care and were asked for their consent. We found staff took time to ensure there was choice in the care options available.

People were protected from the risks of unsafe or inappropriate care and treatment, as accurate and appropriate records were maintained.

During our inspection at 3a The Droveway we spoke to the acting manager, the deputy manager and two support workers. We also took information from other sources which included a satisfaction survey and parents’ meeting minutes.

All the staff that we spoke to had formed close professional relationships with the two people who used the service. The premises were clean and well maintained and the atmosphere was relaxed and homely. The deputy manager told us “Respect is the most important thing to me. It might be our workplace but it’s their home. We view ourselves as guests in their home”.

Staff we spoke with said that they had undertaken safeguarding vulnerable adults training and all knew the correct procedure to follow if they witnessed or suspected abuse. Support workers had developed awareness and a sound understanding of both of the individuals’ support needs. A support worker that we spoke to told us “The care we provide is tailored for the guys on a level which leads to them being themselves. We add new things, new experiences into their lives to further their abilities”.

Both the people who used the service at 3a The Droveway benefit from effective quality assurance systems and a dedicated manager and staff team committed to improving the service provided.

During our visit to 3a The Droveway, the service was found to be well managed. The premises were found to be clean and well maintained with a relaxed and homely atmosphere.

Although levels of communication were limited, people appeared happy, settled and well cared for. This was evident from direct observation of individuals being supported in a professional, sensitive and respectful manner.

As far as practicable and in accordance with their wishes and individual care plans, people were enabled and encouraged to make choices about their daily lives.