Ferncroft is a residential care home, providing accommodation and personal care for up to six people with learning disabilities. At the time of inspection there were six people living in the home. The inspection took place on 9 January 2017 and was unannounced. At the previous inspection on 13 November 2014 we found that the service was meeting the required standards.

There was a registered manager in post, and they were at the home at the time of our 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.

The home had a homely feel and reflected the interests and lives of the people who lived there.

Most of the people living at the home were unable to communicate verbally with us to provide feedback. In addition to speaking with people we used observation of interaction and engagement between people and staff in order to understand how comfortable and at ease people were. People were able to demonstrate their needs through various interactions with staff and enjoyed freedom of movement and activity in and around the home.

There were sufficient numbers of staff to meet the needs and preferences of the people that lived there. Staff understood their duty should they suspect abuse was taking place, including the agencies that needed to be notified, such as the local authority safeguarding team or the police. Risks of harm to people had been identified and clear plans and guidelines were in place to minimise these risks, without restricting people’s freedom. Staff ensured that people were involved in these decisions by speaking with people and making sure care plans were personalised and easy to read.

People were offered choices, supported to feel involved and staff knew how to communicate effectively with each individual according to their needs. People were relaxed and comfortable in the company of staff. Staff supported people in a way which was kind, caring, and respectful.

People were supported to keep healthy and well. Staff supported people to attend appointments with GP’s and other healthcare professionals when they needed to. Medicines were stored safely, and people received their medicines as prescribed. People were involved in their food and drink choices and meals were prepared taking account of people’s health, cultural and religious needs.

Where people did not have the capacity to understand or consent to a decision the provider had followed the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (2005). An appropriate assessment of people’s ability to make decisions for themselves had been completed. Where people’s liberty may have been restricted to keep them safe, the provider had followed the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) to ensure the person’s rights were protected.

The provider regularly sought people’s and staff’s views about how the care and support they received could be improved. There were systems in place to monitor the safety and quality of the service that people experienced.

We used the SOFI observation tool to help us understand the experiences of the people who used the service because not everyone who lived at Ferncroft could talk with us. During our inspection we met all six people who currently lived at the care home and spoke at length with one person. They told us they were happy living at Ferncroft and that the staff who worked there were kind and caring.

We saw the people who used the service were well supported by the staff who treated everyone with respect and dignity. We also found staff were suitably trained and supported to effectively meet the needs and wishes of the people who lived at Ferncroft.

However, although people receiving services in the home were happy and well supported by staff; the provider may wish to note that some parts of the home's interior had not been adequately maintained. This meant the premises needed to be improved to ensure Ferncroft was a more comfortable and homely place for people to live.

The provider did have effective systems in place to routinely assess and monitor the quality of the service people who lived at Ferncroft received.

Ferncroft is a residential care home, providing accommodation and personal care for up to six people with learning disabilities. Ferncroft has a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service and shares the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law with the provider.

At our previous inspection in April 2013, we found the provider was meeting the regulations we inspected.

Some people were able to tell us directly what their views were of the service, whilst others used other forms of communication such as sign language, gestures and other responses to questions. Everyone we spoke with told us or otherwise indicated that they felt safe using the service. Staff were trained in safeguarding adults and the service had policies and procedures in place to ensure that the service responded appropriately to allegations or suspicions of abuse. The service ensured that people’s human rights were respected and took action to assess and minimise risks to people. Staff had received training on behaviour that may challenge and the service consulted with other professionals about managing aspects of behaviour safely.

All of the people we spoke with either told us or indicated that they thought that staff were friendly and helpful. Throughout our inspection we observed that staff were caring and attentive to people. Staff approached people with dignity and respect and demonstrated a good understanding of people’s needs. Staff were quick to respond when people needed support.

There were enough qualified and skilled staff at the service. Staffing numbers and shifts were managed to suit people's needs so that people received their care when they needed and wanted it. Staff had access to information, support and training that they needed to do their jobs well. The provider’s training programme was designed to meet the needs of people using the service so that staff had the knowledge they required to care for people effectively.

People were provided with a range of activities in and outside the service which met their individual needs and interests. People were encouraged to build and develop their independent living skills both in the service and in the community.

Care plans contained information about the health and social care support people needed and records showed they were supported to access other professionals when required. People were involved in making decisions about their care. Where people's needs changed, the provider responded and reviewed the care provided.

People using the service and staff told us they found the manager to be approachable and accessible. We observed an open and inclusive atmosphere in the service and the manager led by example.

Staff were happy working for the service and motivated to provide person centred care.

The provider had a number of audits and quality assurance programmes in place. These included action plans so the provider could monitor whether necessary changes were made and ensure high standards were being maintained.

The service had effective procedures for reporting and investigating incidents and accidents. There were systems to learn from incidents and adverse events and protect people from the risks of similar events happening again.