Clare Care is a care home which accommodates up to three adults with learning disabilities. At the time of the inspection, two people were living at the home. Each person has their own bedroom and the use of communal areas including a lounge, kitchen/diner and bathroom.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support 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 citizen.

People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided and we reviewed both areas during this inspection.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing 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.

The registered manager had recently left the service and the provider had taken up the position of manager and was in the process of applying to CQC to become the registered 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Risks to people were assessed and measures were taken to reduce the likelihood of harm occurring. Staff knew the different types of abuse and how to recognise and report any concerns they had. The process for recruiting new staff was safe and thorough and there were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. Medication was managed and stored safely and people received their medicines at the right times.

People received care and support from staff who received appropriate training and supervision for their role. 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. People's consent was obtained prior to the delivery of any care and support. People's dietary needs were understood and met and people were provided with food and drink appropriate to their needs.

People were treated with dignity and respect and their privacy was promoted. Staff were knowledgeable about people and they had formed positive relationships with them.

People’s needs were kept under review and updated accordingly. Information was made available to people in an accessible format. A complaints policy and procedure was made available to people and relevant others. People were confident about complaining should they need to.

The leadership of the service was inclusive and positive. The quality and safety of the service was assessed and monitored and improvements were made.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

This was an unannounced inspection, carried out on 02 October 2015.

3 Clare Walk is an extended town house located in a residential area of Fazakerley, near Liverpool. The service is registered to accommodate up to three adults who have a learning disability. It is located close to local amenities and public transport links.

At the time of our inspection there were two people using the service.

The service has a registered 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The last inspection of 3 Clare Walk was carried out in April 2014 and we found that the service was meeting all the regulations we assessed.

People told us they felt safe and that staff treated them well. Safeguarding procedures for preventing abuse and for responding to an allegation of abuse were made available to staff. The registered manager was confident about recognising suspected abuse and they knew what their responsibilities were for reporting any concerns they had about people’s safety.

Regular checks were carried out on the environment to make sure it was accessible and safe. Aids and adaptations were in place to help people so that people could safely move around the environment.

Staff received training in relation to infection prevention and control and they followed good infection control practice guidelines. Staff had access to a good supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as disposable gloves and aprons which they used to minimise the risk of cross infection.

There were the right amount of suitably qualified staff on duty to keep people safe. The registered provider carried out appropriate employment checks for staff before they started work at the service.

The registered manager had a good knowledge and understanding of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and their roles and responsibilities linked to this. They worked alongside family members and relevant health and social care professionals to ensure decisions were made in people’s best interests when this was required.

People were provided with care and support that was tailored to meet their individual needs. The service was person centred enabling people to have maximum choice and control over their own lives. People’s needs had been assessed and a personalised care plan which provided staff with clear guidance on how to meet people’s needs was in place.

People were well supported to access a range of healthcare professionals as appropriate to their individual needs. Medication was managed safely and people received their medication on time.

People were encouraged and supported to access services and facilities in their local community and to take part in social and recreational activities of their choice.

People privacy and dignity was respected and they were treated with kindness. The service had a homely and relaxing atmosphere. People were consulted about all aspects of the service including the décor and they were encouraged to personalise their bedrooms and other shared areas of the service.

Staff were well supported and they were provided with training relevant to people’s individual needs.

Systems were in place to assess and monitor the quality of the service people received and to ensure the service was safe and effective. These included regular checks on areas of practice and seeking people’s views about the service.

We considered our inspection findings to answer questions we always ask;

Is the service safe?

Is the service effective?

Is the service caring?

Is the service responsive?

Is the service well-led?

This is a summary of what we found –

Is the service safe?

People had received the support they needed from staff to meet their care and welfare needs. Risk assessments had been carried out and risk management plans were in place to ensure people could take part in tasks and activities safely as part of an independent lifestyle. There were the right amount of skilled and experienced staff working at the service. Regular checks were carried out at the home to ensure people received safe care and support, including checks on people’s finances, care records and the environment.

Is the service effective?

Staff were respectful and polite towards people who used the service and they encouraged and supported people to take part in the day to day running of the home. People’s preferences had been recognised and valued. Checks which were carried out at the home ensured people received effective care and support.

Is the service caring?

People received the support they needed with their care and welfare needs. We also found that people received support to lead their chosen lifestyle and they were supported to maintain contact with people who were important to them.

Long standing staff had a good knowledge of people’s choices and support needs and were able to communicate well with them. We observed that staff spent time supporting people socially as well as responding to their care and welfare needs.

Is the service responsive?

People had received support to maintain relationships with people important to them. Staff had a good understanding of people’s preferences and choices and this had been recorded in the person’s care plan. We observed that staff communicated with people in a way they could understand. There was a complaints procedure available at the home which was provided in a format which people understood.

Is the service well-led?

The provider visited the home each month to carry out checks on the quality of the service people received. People who used the service and their relatives were invited to comment about the service and put forward any ideas for improvements.

During our visit, we observed staff members who continually included people in decisions about their individual care and treatment and gained the person`s consent before any care was delivered. This reflected a person-centred approach to care while also respecting the person`s decision. We undertook observation of care in communal areas and found the care given to be appropriate and safe, with adequate numbers of staff present. Additionally, excellent interaction took place between people and staff members who took care to ask before intervening with assistance in any area of care. The provider ensured that all people using services had their medication reviewed regularly and, if necessary, changed to meet their needs. All records were updated accordingly.

All staff received a comprehensive induction that included a period of `shadowing` a senior member of staff until such time it was deemed they were able to carry out their roles independently. Staff members were adequately trained which ensured they delivered quality care and treatment to people using services. People’s complaints were fully investigated and resolved where possible to their satisfaction. Regular meetings were held so people could make any comments or suggestions, and if necessary, they were supported by a staff member.