This announced inspection took place on 6, 7 and 8 December 2017. We gave the service 72 hours notice of the inspection visit because it is small and the manager is often out of the office supporting staff or providing care. We needed to be sure that they would be in. We also considered the potential impact the inspection might have on some people who used the service. The people who used the service usually arrive from 3pm and left the next morning; because of this one of our visits was over tea-time and early evening in order to meet people and observe how they were supported.

Coppull Lane Respite Services provides respite care for up to five adults with learning disabilities and/or autism. Some people have additional physical disabilities. The service is purpose built with some overhead tracking and adapted facilities. People accessed the service for short breaks, typically 1-3 nights and occasionally for a full week. Some people visited every few weeks and some visited weekly.

This was the first time the service had been inspected since registering at this address under the current provider, Wigan Council on 17 October 2017. The service is registered to provide accommodation for people who need nursing or personal care. There was a registered manager in post. 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 service was found to be good in relation to the five questions we ask; is the service safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.

People accessing the service were safe and protected from harm and abuse. Staff were knowledgeable about the importance of keeping people safe and how to achieve this. There were systems in place to allow staff or relatives to raise any concerns they might have and evidence that the home had responded appropriately. The risks inherent in each person's daily life had been assessed and management plans developed to minimise the potential for harm.

The service demonstrated they used a comprehensive and detailed assessment process to establish individual's needs and how they were to be met. The service worked in partnership with other professionals and families to optimise their knowledge of individuals and provide care that was effective. Staff were skilled at working in person centred ways to ensure people received care that was individually tailored to their needs.

Staff were recruited safely and had received an appropriate induction and on-going training that included regular refreshers. There was also more specific training around individual long term conditions such as autism, epilepsy and restrictive practices. Staff were aware of the importance of consent and their obligations in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Staff were observed to be caring in their support of people using the service. Staff demonstrated kindness and patience and demonstrated their understanding of the principles of dignity and respect and were observed to uphold these.

The service valued diversity and ensured that people's cultural backgrounds and preferences were included in the assessment and care planning process. The service had supported people to celebrate different festivals including, Diwali and Christmas. People's interests were also reflected in their care plans and they were supported with activities and outings.

The service was well-led and had a clear management structure in place. The team leader oversaw the day to day management of the service with regular support from the registered manager. Staff felt that the management team were approachable and supportive. Relatives of people who accessed the service said they were happy with the management team and felt able to a