This inspection took place on 11 and 13 July 2018 and was un-announced. This is the first inspection of this service since it was transferred to Dimensions from the local authority in April 2017.

Dimensions Somerset ¿Sev Limited, is part of a national not for profit organisation providing services for people with ¿learning disabilities, autism and complex needs. Northmead House provides respite (short stay) accommodation and personal care to a maximum of 10 people with a learning disability. At the time of inspection there were ten people living at the service. Three people were being accommodated for a longer period to allow for a transition to an appropriate service that could meet the people's longer-term needs.

The people we met on the day of the inspection had complex physical and learning disabilities. Some of the people we met could verbally communicate with us and others were not. To capture the opinions of people who could not communicate directly with us, we observed peoples, interactions with staff and their reactions. We also spoke to people’s relatives to help us form a judgement.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen. Registering the Right Support CQC policy

The provider's recruitment processes had not fully minimised the risk of employing unsuitable staff at the time of the inspection. This was discussed with the registered manager who demonstrated they had recently applied for all staff to have an updated Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check and were waiting for the applications to be processed. However, the service was sufficiently staffed.

At the time of the inspection there was a registered manager in place. The manager had been registered with CQC since April 2017. 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 building had a range of aids and adaptations in place to assist people who had mobility difficulties. All bedrooms were for single occupancy. The service is staffed 24 hours a day and all areas are accessible to wheelchair users.

People told us or indicated they felt safe living at Northmead House. One relative we spoke with said, “(Persons name) wants to go there for a start, that’s more than half the battle.” They added, “If they didn’t want to go there, they wouldn’t.”

The service had effective safeguarding systems, and managed safeguarding concerns promptly. The registered manager and staff understood their responsibilities to raise concerns and report these internally and externally. The provider had a proactive approach to anticipating and managing risks to people’s health and safety. People received their medicines as prescribed. The service was clear about its responsibilities and role in relation to medicines.

The provider managed the control and prevention of infection well. Staff had access to, and followed, policies and procedures on infection control that met current and relevant national guidance.

Staff understood their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents and accidents. People knew how to complain and staff had given information about advocacy support to help people in the event they needed their voice heard.

People received effective care and support from competent and well-trained staff. When restrictive practices had been identified, such has having bed rails or straps on their wheel chairs, there were risk assessments and guidance in place to protect people.

People we spo