Clarendon House provides accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care (no nursing) for up to seven people with learning disabilities and mental health disorders. At the time of our inspection six people were living at the home.

This inspection took place on 26 April and 3 May 2017 and was announced. The registered manager was given short notice because people living in the home can become unsettled by the presence of an unannounced visitor. This gave the provider an opportunity to plan our visit with the people using the service. The inspection was carried out by one inspector and an expert by experience. The service had a change of provider name at the beginning of 2017; as a result the location was re-registered. There had not been any changes to the registered manager or the location address of service provision. This means that previous inspection history; in which no concerns were identified, are not linked to this provider.

A registered manager was employed by the service who was present throughout the inspection. 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.

We saw people were relaxed with the staff who were supporting them, and did not hesitate to seek support or assistance from any of the staff members present during our inspection. This indicated that people felt safe around the staff members. Processes were in pace to ensure their safety such as recruitment checks and the way medicines were managed.

Care and support was centred on the individual’s needs and routines. People’s wishes, rights and privacy was respected. The home had implemented a 'Recovery Star' outcome focused measurement system, which is designed specifically for people with Mental Health Difficulties. Two healthcare professionals described how the staff “worked really hard to support residents with their personal goals and accommodate individual’s needs.”

Everyone spoke highly of the level of care the staff and management provided at Clarendon House. The registered manager continued to work alongside other health and social care professionals to promote their understanding of what was good practice, as well as working alongside local voluntary organisations

Without exception, people felt able to raise any concerns, and were confident they would be listened too, taken seriously and action be taken.

The registered manager led a staff team who were passionate about providing a good, value based service to people. People were supported by staff who described moral as being “very high”.

Effective systems were in place to ensure the quality of the service was monitored.