The inspection took place on 13 September 2018 and was unannounced. This was the first inspection of the service since registering with CQC in July 2017.

Foxwell Cottage is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Foxwell Cottage accommodates up to 4 people in an adapted building. The service provides support to people with learning disabilities and autism. At the time of our visit, there were two people living at the service. The service had been providing support to people since April 2018.

The care 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.

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.

People’s needs were assessed before they came to live at the home but we identified one instance in which the process would have benefitted from being more robust. We made a recommendation about assessments.

People’s care was planned in a person-centred way with detailed information about what people liked and how to support them documented in care plans. Risk assessments were routinely carried out and measures were introduced to keep people safe. Where incidents had occurred, action was taken to reduce the risk of a similar incident reoccurring. Staff understood how to identify and respond to abuse and had received training in safeguarding adults. There were enough staff at the home to meet people’s needs and the provider had carried out checks to ensure staff were suitable for their roles.

People were supported by caring staff who took time to offer choices and involve people in their care. People were encouraged to maintain their independence and develop skills. Staff worked with people to identify activities and people had individual activity schedules. Staff had received training and support which was tailored to the needs of the people that they supported. Staff told us that they felt supported by management and had opportunities to develop themselves.

Staff supported people to access healthcare professionals and information about their medical conditions was documented in care plans. People’s medicines were managed and administered safely by trained staff. The provider had links with important stakeholders, such as health and social car professionals and the local community. The home environment was clean and there were regular checks carried out to ensure it was safe. The home environment was suitable for people with appropriate signage and security.

The registered manager worked alongside staff to support people and there were systems in place to enable effective communication between staff. Staff were involved in the running of the service and felt supported by management. Staff knew people well and there were systems in place to enable people to make choices and involve them in decisions about their home. There was a complaints policy in place and where issues had been raised, these had been responded to. The provider carried out a variety of checks and audits to monitor the quality of the care that was delivered to people.