This inspection took place 16 January 2017 and was unannounced.

Cambian Conifers provides is a respite service in the Borrowash area of Derby. The service offers personal, social and respite care for a maximum of 9 people with a learning disability. Some people have associated conditions that may include, autism, sensory and communication difficulties. At the time of the inspection, there were two people who had stayed there for over a year and three people in the morning and four in the afternoon staying for respite.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager at the service. 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 were supported by staff who understood their role and responsibilities in keeping them safe. Staff were aware of the need to keep people safe and to protect them from the risk of avoidable harm. Staff and the registered manager understood procedures in relation to safeguarding and ensured any allegation of abuse was recorded and reported in the appropriate manner.

The provider had recruitment procedures in place to ensure staff were of good character and able to work with vulnerable people. Recruitment procedures were safe and included Disclosure and Barring service (DBS) checks.

Medicines were safely managed and stored. Staff had taken part in training relating to safe administration of medicines and competency assessments were carried out. Staff felt supported by the management team. They received training and supervision to support them in providing people with the care they needed to meet their needs.

People were encouraged and supported to take part in activities of their choice. Care and care plans were personalised to meet people’s needs, choice and preference. Information was provided to people in different formats, to ensure they were included.

The principles and requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards had been met. Best interest decisions and capacity assessments had been completed when required and were in people’s care plans.

People’s right to privacy and dignity was respected by the staff. Staff were kind, caring and compassionate; they promoted and supported people to be involved in their care.

People’s nutritional needs were met and dietary needs were catered for. Staff understood people’s health needs; people were supported to access relevant health care professionals and any recommendations were followed.

Information was available to signpost people and relatives to the relevant agencies should it be necessary to raise a concern or complaint; complaints were taken seriously and actions taken to resolve them.

Effective auditing systems were in place to assess and monitor the quality of the service. People and relatives were asked for their opinions and views of the service and how it could be improved.