Elmleigh Homes is a 'care home' for 22 people who may have learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provider, and both were looked at during this inspection. The service is provided on one site but with different buildings. This means that people have a choice of their preferred environment and are able to use their life skills as these develop. The service has its own car and minibus for using on outings.

The home had been registered with CQC before Registering the Right Support guidance and Building the Right Support had been developed. However, we found the care provided included choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People living with learning disabilities at Elmleigh Homes were supported to live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

At our last inspection we rated the service as overall 'Good'. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns.

There were 20 people using the service at the time of our visit. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

People were kept safe at the service. Staff recognised signs of any abuse and knew the process to follow to report such incidents. Staffing levels were maintained to ensure people were fully supported in a safe manner. Medicines were stored and handled in line with current regulations.

People's consent was obtained before any support or care was provided. Staff completed regular training and refresher courses to ensure their knowledge was up to date and people's needs were met in the correct way. People had access to health care professionals and had a choice of food and snacks throughout the day.

Staff were caring and understood the needs of the people receiving support and how choices were to be provided. People's independence was respected and supported, with people enjoying trips outside the service, and attending college, whenever they had chosen.

There was a range of activities offered and regular discussions about how people wanted to spend their days. Appropriate staffing levels were in place to support all outings and activities. The local community was regularly accessed and people routinely undertook such activities as enjoying the local night club, days out for walks and shopping. Contact with family and friends was supported and encouraged, with relatives being part of any celebrations or special events.

Relatives and staff were happy with the leadership of the service and told us that the registered manager was actively involved in the daily routines and readily available to discuss any matters. Staff felt they were fully supported by the management and were included in any developments of the service.

This inspection took place on 3, 5 and 8 August 2016. Elmleigh House [the service] is a residential care home which provides accommodation and personal care for up to 22 people with a learning disability.

At the time of our inspection the service had 18 people living there. The service offers accommodation in four separate units situated on the same site. The largest unit has 13 bedrooms. There are then two houses which offer four places in a domestic style house. The remaining unit provides one bedroom.

There was a registered manager in place and they were available during the inspection. 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 received safe and effective care from staff. Staff had a good understanding of the various types of harm and their roles and responsibilities in reporting any safeguarding concerns.

Risks to people's individual needs and the environment had been assessed. Staff had information available about how to meet people’s needs, including action required to reduce and manage known risks.

There were sufficient numbers of staff to meet people’s care needs and staff were recruited safely. Staff received regular training and supervision and were able to reflect on the care and support they delivered and identified further training requirements.

People told us they received their medication as prescribed. Staff were able to explain the process they followed when supporting people to safely take their medication. Records we checked confirmed this.

People’s rights were protected under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People were supported to eat and drink sufficient amounts to meet their nutritional needs. External health professionals were involved in people’s care when required.

People’s care plans reflected their individual needs and personal wishes. People were involved in the development of their care plans and these were reviewed regularly.

The service encouraged feedback from all people involved with the service. A complaints process was in place, and people felt able to make a complaint. People felt confident that staff would respond in a timely manner.

People were very satisfied with all aspects of the service provided and spoke positively of both staff and management team. People received care and support from kind, caring and compassionate staff, who respected their privacy and dignity at all times.

People had confidence in the registered manager and the way the service was run. There were systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided. The vision and values of the staff team were person-centred and made sure people were at the heart of the service.

When we visited Elmleigh House people using the service were very happy to talk to us and tell us how happy they were to be living there. They described having full and active lives in which they experienced regular community access, holidays and visits to their family.

The care plans and care records showed that the staff placed the needs, wishes, preferences and decisions of people who used the services at the centre of the assessment, planning and delivery of care and support.

People using the service commented, “I am happy here, I have lots of plans for holidays.” “I am being supported to be more independent.”

The systems in place to monitor the training and development of staff were not sufficient to ensure that the staff had the skills they needed to support people who used the service.

We spoke with three people who used the service who told us that they knew about their care plans and they said that the staff talked to them daily about their care and support.

People who used services commented on their experiences of the care they received. One person said, “I think my life is brilliant here, I have freedom, I visit my friends and people visit me.” Another person told us, “I have friends here, the staff help me when I need them too. I know about my care plan and my programme of activities.”

People who used services told us that they were very happy with the quality of the services provided at the home.

One person told us, “I feel safe here, my relatives visit me regularly, staff talk to me and we have meetings, I’m very happy.”

Another person told us, “I think the manager is lovely, she treats me like part of her family, in fact, we are a big happy family. I feel very safe and cared for.”

We spoke with nine people who used the service, four staff, the manager and the provider. We looked at records and checked the safety of the environment.

We found that the manager had made improvements to the training and development of the staff team. Systems were in place so that people who used the service were cared for by staff who were supported to deliver care safely and to an appropriate standard.

We found the environment was safe and adequately maintained. There was suitable nutrition provided. People who used the service consented to their care wherever possible and their rights were being protected if they were unable to consent due to their mental capacity.

We asked four people who used the service if the staff supported them safely. Comments received included, “I live a really good life now because I have different friends and lots of people to socialise with. The staff are very friendly.” Also, “The staff are very good with us, it’s a friendly atmosphere. Sometimes I need my own space and the staff respect this.”