Croft Cottage is a residential care home for seven people with epilepsy, learning and or physical disabilities. The accommodation is spread over two floors with lift access to the first floor.

At the last inspection in December 2014, the service was rated good.

At this inspection we found the service remained good.

Why the service is rated good:

People and their relatives were happy with the care provided. They described it as “Home from home, family environment, consistent individualised care”.

Systems were in place to keep people safe. Risks to people were identified, managed and kept under review. People received their medicines safely. Staff were suitably recruited and sufficient staff were provided to meet people’s needs.

Staff were inducted, trained, supervised and adequately supported in their roles. People had access to health professionals to meet their needs. Their nutritional needs were met and appropriate referrals and support was provided for people who required it.

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.

Staff were kind, caring and had positive fun relationships with people. They treated people with dignity, respect and promoted their privacy.

People had care plans in place which outlined the care and support they required. They had regular reviews of their care to ensure any changes in their needs were addressed. Person centred and varied activities were made available to people. People were enabled to be involved in their care. Assistance and prompts were provided to enable people with limited verbal communication to have their needs understood and met. People and their relatives had the information they needed to make a complaint.

The home had an experienced manager and established staff team. They worked well together to provide person centred care to people. Systems were in place to audit the service and the provider monitored the service to ensure it was suitably managed.

There were seven people living at the home when we visited. We spoke with three people who lived at the home. They said that they were very happy with the care and support they received. One person told us "I am very happy here...all the staff take good care of me." Another person told us "I am comfortable here...I like it that I am independent and I enjoy helping with things like cooking and washing up." And third person told us "The staff are very good and work hard to keep us happy and safe."

People told us staff always sought their consent before assisting them. One person told us "They always ask me first before they help." Another person told us "They always take my permission...they never do anything against my wishes."

During a tour of the home, we noted all areas of the home were clean and tidy and the environment was pleasant for both staff and people living in the home. One person told us "The home is always clean", another person told us "My room is always very clean...I help staff clean my room by Hoovering and putting my things in nice order." A third person told us "Staff clean the home everyday which keeps it nice and tidy."

We found there were effective recruitment and selection processes in place and appropriate checks were undertaken before staff began work.

People told us that their privacy, dignity and independence were respected.

They told us that they liked living at the home. They felt they were well looked after and that their health and care needs were met.

They felt safe living at the home. People commented that they would talk to staff if they had any concerns.

People informed us that they thought the house was kept clean and staff supported them to keep their bedrooms clean and tidy.

They told us that there were generally enough staff on duty to support them. One person told us that there was not sufficient staff on duty on the day of the inspection to enable them to go to college.

People commented that the staff were very nice, kind and helpful to them. They felt involved in the running of the home.

This inspection took place on the 3 and 4 December 2014 and was unannounced. We previously inspected the service on the 10 May 2013. At that time the service was meeting the regulations inspected.

Croft Cottage is a care home which provides accommodation and personal care for up to seven people with epilepsy, learning and/or physical disabilities.

At the time of our inspection there were seven people living in the home. 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.

We saw staff engaged positively with people and respected their privacy and dignity whilst supporting them. Staff had a good understanding of people’s needs and the support required and promoted their involvement in their care and daily life of the home. One relative commented “The care is fantastic and in their experience it is the cream of the crop”. Another relative commented “The care given is first class and staff are friendly, lovely and so kind”.

The provider had systems in place to satisfy themselves that the service was being effectively managed and monitored. Staff, people who used the service and relatives were happy with the way the home was run. They told us the registered manager was approachable, available and the staff all worked well as a team. Staff were all clear of their roles and responsibilities and worked well together to provide safe, effective, caring and responsive care to people.

A relative commented “It is lovely as all the staff and manager seem to get on well together”. A consultant involved with the home commented “There is outstanding epilepsy expertise, but also unique knowledge of clients gained over many years and due to very little fluctuation in key workers and senior care staff, which is testament to the excellent care they provide, but also the management in place”.

People and their relatives told us they felt safe. Staff were trained in safeguarding adults and protocols were provided on the action to take if such incidences occurred.

Risks to people, staff and visitors were identified, addressed and managed which promoted safe care and a safe working environment. The home was clean, well maintained and systems were in place to prevent the risks of cross infection. Accident and incidents were appropriately managed which ensured people’s safety.

There were enough staff to support people and meet their needs. The home used thorough recruitment procedures which included a check for criminal convictions and written references. Staff were supported to meet people’s needs through induction, training and supervision.

Medicines were stored and administered to people safely. Staff undertook training so that they knew how to handle medicines safely and in line with guidance.

Care plans recorded the support people needed. These were detailed and kept under review which ensured staff provided consistent care for people. People had a weekly programme of activities and had access to leisure activities. Systems were in place to address complaints and concerns raised and people were aware of these.

People were able to make decisions on their care and staff supported people to attend healthcare

appointments and maintain their health and well-being. The home had a stable staff team who knew the people they supported well which meant they were quick to notice and respond to changes in people’s health.

Staff and people who used the service ate together and this created a homely family environment for people. People were offered choices and were encouraged to eat their meals independently with support given when required.