This inspection took place on 7 March 2017 and was unannounced.

The provider of Colliers House is registered to provide accommodation with personal care. At the time of this inspection 11 people with a range of needs which included learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs.

Colliers House is made up of three houses. Four people lived in the main house where the registered manager’s office was situated. The other two houses each consisted of four one bedroom flats where people were supported by staff to live as independently as possible.

There was a registered manager in post. As part of its conditions of registration, this provider is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (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 home is run.

As a result of concerns brought to our attention and due to incidents reported to us we brought forward the date of our planned inspection at Colliers House.

People were supported by staff who knew how to recognise and report any concerns so people were kept safe from harm. The registered manager worked alongside the local authority so any concerns raised were investigated and took appropriate action to protect people. Staff were recruited safely and staffing levels ensured people were safe and received the care and support they needed in the way they preferred. People received their prescribed medicines by staff who had been trained to do this safely.

Staff were provided with the training they needed to meet people’s specific needs and an active training programme was in place to address identified training needs. Staff had regular one to one meetings to reflect on and develop their practice.

Staff respected people's rights to make their own decisions and choices about their care and treatment. People's permission was sought by staff before they helped them with anything. Staff made sure people understood what was being said to them by using a range of communication methods. When people did not have the capacity to make their own specific decisions these were made in their best interests by people who knew them well and were authorised to do this.

Staff met people's care and support needs in the least restrictive way. Where it was felt people received care and support to keep them safe and well which may be restricting their liberty applications had been made. These actions made sure people's liberty was not being unlawfully restricted.

Staff had been supported to assist people in the right way which included helping people to eat and drink enough to stay healthy and well. People had been assessed for any risks associated with eating and drinking and care plans had been created for those people who were identified as being at risk. People were supported to access health and social care services to maintain and promote their health and well-being.

Staff cared for people in a kind, warm and friendly way. Staff promoted what people could do and supported people with dignity when they needed assistance. People's right to private space and time to be alone and with their relatives was accepted and respected.

Staff provided the care which had been planned to meet people’s needs and had a good degree of knowledge about their individual choices, decisions and preferences. Staff offered people the opportunity to do things for fun and interest. There were arrangements in place for receiving and resolving complaints which took into account people's individual needs.

The registered manager was approachable and supportive of staff and took account of good practice guidance to improve the care people received. The views of people who lived at the home, relatives and staff were being established to develop the

This inspection took place on 4 November 2015. The inspection was announced 48 hours before we visited to establish if people living at the service would be available to talk with us. This was the first inspection of the service since they registered with us.

Colliers House is registered to provide accommodation and personal care within a residential setting to a maximum of twelve people. There were eleven people using the service at the time of our inspection. This included people with a learning disability, autism and mental health needs.

The service consists of three units. Four people lived in the main unit where the registered manager’s office was situated. The other two units each consisted of four one bedroom flats where people were supported by staff to live as independently as possible.

A requirement of the provider’s registration is that they have 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. At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager at the service.

People and their relatives told us they felt safe at Colliers House, and staff treated them well. The registered manager and staff understood how to protect people they supported from abuse, and knew what procedures to follow to report any concerns. Staff had a good understanding of risks associated with people’s care needs and knew how to support them.

There were enough staff at Colliers House to support people safely and provide people with support in the home and whilst outside of the home. Recruitment procedures made sure staff were of a suitable character to care for people.

Medicines were stored and administered safely, and people received their medicines as prescribed. People were supported to attend health care appointments when they needed to and received healthcare that supported them to maintain their wellbeing.

People and their relatives thought staff were kind and responsive to people’s needs, and people’s privacy and dignity was respected.

Management and staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), and supported people in line with these principles. People were supported to make everyday decisions themselves, which helped them to maintain their independence. When they were not able to make these decisions relatives and healthcare professionals were consulted for their advice and input.

People were supported to pursue their hobbies and interests both within and outside of the home. Activities were arranged according to people’s individual preferences, needs and abilities. People who lived at Colliers House were encouraged to maintain links with friends and family who visited them at the home when people invited them. They were also supported to visit their relatives.

There was a good transition process to support people moving into Colliers House. Relatives were involved to help reduce any anxieties. Detailed action plans were devised to assist transition into the home in order to ensure people’s care and support needs were met.

Staff, people and their relatives felt the registered manager was kind, supportive and promoted an open culture within the home. Positive communication was encouraged and any identified concerns were acted upon by the registered manager, operations manager and the provider.

Staff were supported by the registered manager through regular team meetings, direct observation and supervision sessions. Staff felt their training and induction supported them to meet the needs of people they cared for. The registered manager felt well supported by the provider who visited regularly.

People and their relatives told us they knew how to make a complaint if they needed to. The provider monitored complaints to identify any trends and patterns, and made changes to the service in response to complaints.

The provider carried regular audits to check the quality of care people received.