Dimensions 6 The Avenue is a residential care home registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to nine people with a learning disability or who are on the autistic spectrum. At the time of the inspection the service was looking after seven people and six of them had lived together for over 30 years. There were currently two vacancies, with trial plans in place for one person to join the home.

The inspection was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection because we wanted to ensure key staff were available and that we would not be interrupting any Christmas activities for people.

At the time of the inspection there was no registered manager in post at the service. The previous manager had left in November 2017. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service and has the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law; as does the provider. 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. A locality manager had already been identified by the provider and they will be submitting their application to register with CQC in the New Year.

The service people received was safe. The staff team had received training in safeguarding adults and knew what to do if concerns were raised regarding the people they looked after. Any risks to people’s health and welfare were well managed. Staff recruitment procedures were robust and pre-employment checks ensured that only suitable staff were employed. The management of medicines followed safe working procedures and clear records were maintained. The premises were clean, tidy and fresh smelling. No infection control issues were identified.

The service people received was effective. The assessment and care planning processes in place ensured people’s care and support needs were met. New staff received an induction training programme and there was an on-going mandatory training programme all staff completed. This meant staff had the right skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and support. Mandatory training included Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and worked within the principles of the legislation.

People were provided with sufficient food and drink. They were supported to make healthy food choices. Each person was able to have a say about the meals that were served and they helped the support workers with food preparation. The staff team supported people to access other health and social care services as required.

The service people received was caring. People said the staff were kind and caring towards them and they were treated well. Despite there having been significant staff changes, the staff team had built good working relationships with the people they supported. People were involved in saying how they wanted to be looked after and had a say in how the home was run.

The service people received was responsive to their individual needs. Each person received a person centred service. They were supported to have a meaningful and fulfilling life with the ability to participate in the activities they liked.

The service was well led. This was because the staff team were committed to providing people with a good quality and safe service. The provider had clear and effective governance arrangements in place and there was a programme of checks and audits completed.