This inspection took place on 25 April 2017 and was unannounced. At our last inspection in December 2014 the service was rated as good.

Green Lanes Projects is a six bed care home for people with learning disabilities. It is registered for the regulated activity, accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care. On the day of our visit there were 6 people living in the home.

People experienced good care and support. They were supported to live safe, fulfilled and meaningful lives in the way they wanted to.

People were supported with healthy eating and to maintain a healthy weight, with specialist diets when required. People who needed assistance with meal preparation were supported and encouraged to make choices about what they ate and drank. The support staff we spoke with demonstrated an excellent knowledge of people’s care needs, significant people and events in their lives, and their daily routines and preferences. They also understood the provider’s safeguarding procedures and could explain how they would protect people if they had any concerns

Staff told us they really enjoyed working in the home and spoke positively about the culture and management of the service. Staff told us that they were encouraged to openly discuss any issues. Staff said they enjoyed their jobs and described management as supportive. Staff confirmed they were able to raise issues and make suggestions about the way the service was provided.

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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The service was safe and there were appropriate safeguards in place to help protect the people who lived there. People were able to make choices about the way in which they were cared for. Staff listened to them and knew their needs well. Staff had the training and support they needed.

Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people’s needs. Recruitment practices were safe and relevant checks had been completed before staff worked at the home. People’s medicines were managed appropriately so they received them safely.

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) provides a legal framework for making particular decisions on behalf of people who may lack the mental capacity to do so for themselves. The Act requires that as far as possible people make their own decisions and are helped to do so when needed. When they lack mental capacity to take particular decisions, any made on their behalf must be in their best interests and as least restrictive as possible.

The service was meeting the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Appropriate mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions had been undertaken by relevant professionals. This ensured that the decision was taken in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005, DoLS and associated Codes of Practice.

People participated in a range of different social activities and were supported to access the local community. They also participated in shopping for the home and their own needs. The registered manager and staff ensured everyone was supported to maintain good health. Staff took a very proactive approach to ensuring people's complex health needs were always met, and consistently ensured that when people needed specialist input from health care professionals they got it.

Staff were caring and always ensured they treated people with dignity and respect. They had a good understanding of the care and support needs of every person living in the home. People had developed very positive relationships with staff and there was a friendly and relaxed atmosphere in the home.

Staff were well supported with training, supervision and appraisal whic

Green Lanes Projects is a six bed care home for people with learning disabilities. On the day of our visit there were 6 people living in the home. We inspected Green Lanes Projects on 15 December 2014. This was an unannounced inspection.

People told us they were very happy with the care and support they received.

People who needed assistance with meal preparation were well supported and encouraged to make choices about what they ate and drank. The care staff we spoke with demonstrated a good knowledge of people’s care needs, significant people and events in their lives, and their daily routines and preferences. They also understood the provider’s safeguarding procedures and could explain how they would protect people if they had any concerns.

Staff told us they enjoyed working in the home and spoke positively about the culture and management of the service. Staff told us that they were encouraged to openly discuss any issues. Staff said they enjoyed their jobs and described management as supportive. Staff confirmed they were able to raise issues and make suggestions about the way the service was provided.

The registered manager had been in place since October 2012. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The registered manager provided good leadership and people using the service; their relatives and visiting professionals told us the manager promoted high standards of care.

The service was safe and there were appropriate safeguards in place to help protect the people who lived there. People were able to make choices about the way in which they were cared for and staff listened to them and knew their needs well. Staff had the training and support they needed. Relatives of people living at the home and other professionals were happy with the service. There was evidence that staff and managers at the home had been involved in reviewing and monitoring the quality of the service to make sure it improved.

Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people’s needs. Recruitment practices were safe and relevant checks had been completed before staff worked at the home. People’s medicines were managed appropriately so they received them safely

The service was meeting the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards

( DoLS ).Appropriate mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions had been undertaken by relevant professionals. This ensured that the decision was taken in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and associated Codes of Practice.

People had participated in a range of different social activities individually and as a group and were supported to access the local community. Activities included going out to the theatre and cinema and attending church. They also participated in shopping for the home and their own needs and some people had attended college courses and work placements

People were treated with dignity and respect by staff and their consent was sought before staff provided care or support. We spoke with four people who used the service. One person told us "Staff are nice, because they are friendly and they help me." Two people told us "Staff are good" and one person said "They help me to go out and to have fun." Another said "I went with staff dancing and staff are alright."

People's care needs were discussed and agreed and took into account their choices, independence and the management of any identified risks.

Arrangements were in place to maintain the fabric of the building and interior. We saw that re-decoration had taken place of both the inside and outside. Some upgrade to furnishings had been completed with new carpets.

Staff were supported by their managers and said they received supervision monthly and felt comfortable talking to the registered manager if they had any concerns. Records showed that the registered manager addressed issues which could affect people's performance during supervision sessions.

People who used the service and staff were asked for their views about their care and treatment and they were acted on. We saw the completed questionnaires for two people who used the service which told us that people were happy with the service that was being provided.

At the time of the inspection, there were four people living at the home. We spoke with the people and observed care being provided. We also spoke with the provider, the home’s manager and three staff members.

One of the people said the home was “really good” and that they got on “really well” with the staff and other residents. Another person said they could not think of any ways in which the service could be improved. People said they felt safe at the home and confirmed that their wishes and preferences were taken into account by the home in relation to their care needs. They felt able to speak with staff regarding any concerns they might have.

We saw that people were relaxed and comfortable at the home. Their independence was promoted and their involvement in the community was encouraged by a range of activities supported by the home. We saw that the staff had a good understanding of people’s needs and that they worked well with them, providing care which met their needs.

The home was generally in a good state of repair, but some minor building maintenance work was needed. In addition, some rooms would benefit from redecoration.

People who use the service told us that they were happy with their service and that staff supported them with their needs. This was reflected in the comment we received, "Staff help me to clean my room, then I clean my room. Staff understand me. They respect me and I feel safe". This view was reflected in the written records of comments made by other people who live in the home.