The inspection was carried out on 6 and 11 September 2017 and was unannounced.

Heathcotes (Eversley) is registered to provide accommodation with personal care needs to eight people who have a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. There were eight people living at the scheme during our inspection. The service is set over three floors and has a large communal lounge, kitchen and dining room. There is access to front and back gardens with a patio area.

There was a registered manager in post who was on planned leave on the first day of our inspection but present on the second day 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.

At our inspection on 26 and 26 June 2015 the service was rated as Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

People continued to receive care and support that protected them from the risk of harm and abuse. Staff knew how to recognise and report the signs of abuse and poor practice. There were enough suitably trained staff employed to meet people’s complex needs. The provider followed safe recruitment checks to ensure prospective staff were suitable to work at the home

People were supported to have choice and control over their lives. Where people were unable to make certain decisions for themselves, these were made in their best interests by people who knew then well.

People were supported by staff who had the skills and knowledge to meet their individual needs. Staff were very positive about the variety and quality of training available to them. Staff felt well supported and valued.

Staff monitored people’s health and supported them to access and follow healthcare advice. People received their medicines as prescribed and accurate records were maintained.

Staff encouraged people to follow healthy diets and ensured they had enough to eat and drink. People’s dietary needs were assessed and met by staff to reduce the risk of choking.

People were cared for by staff who were kind and considerate. Staff had formed positive working relationships with people and their relatives. Staff treated people with dignity and respect and supported them to be as independent as possible.

People received care and support that was tailored to their individual needs and wishes. People and their relatives were actively involved in planning and reviewing their care plans. Staff knew people well and were responsive to changes in their needs.

People and their relatives had not had cause to complain but felt confident that any issues they did raise would be dealt with effectively.

The registered manager had a clear vision for the service that was shared and worked towards by staff. There was an open and inclusive culture at the service where the views of people, their relatives and staff were actively sought and worked towards.

The registered manager was enthusiastic in their approach and lead by example. People, relatives and staff found them friendly, approachable and effective in their role.

The provider had a range of checks in place to monitor and drive improvement in the service.

Further information is detailed in the report below.

We spoke to one person who lived at the home and two relatives. They told us the care was excellent and people were well looked after. They said “staff are wonderful, can talk to them about anything [like my extended family] and that “each individual carer is fully committed” to the people they looked after.

We saw people’s needs were assessed and care records were personalised to the individual. Care plans contained information about individual preferences and promoted the person’s independence where possible. People’s progress was monitored monthly and relatives kept fully informed of any changes. We found people's health and welfare was checked regularly and people received the support they required.

We reviewed three staff files and spoke to two staff members. We found that staff were appropriately supported and trained to care for people. We observed people were well cared for and treated kindly.

We looked at the provider's safeguarding arrangements. We saw the provider had local safeguarding and whistleblowing policies and all staff had received training in how to identify and respond to signs of abuse.

The provider undertook regular quality audits to check and monitor the quality of the service provided. A satisfaction questionnaire had also recently been sent out to ask for people's views and opinions on the service provided. Only one questionnaire had been returned at the time of our visit but the feedback received was excellent.

This inspection took place on the 25 and 26 June 2015 and the first day was unannounced.

Heathcotes (Eversley) is a care home for adults and registered for a maximum of eight people. At the time of the inspection there were seven people using the service. Heathcotes provides care and accommodation to people with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

The service was last inspected on 26 June 2013 and, at that time; it met the regulations we assessed.

The service had a registered manager. 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 care provided was personalised and enabled people to live as independently as possible. People who used the service were supported and encouraged to make decisions about aspects of their daily lives. Each person had a support and activity plan which had been discussed and agreed with them. Activities undertaken included; holidays, day trips, shopping, gardening, going to discos and the cinema.

Staffing levels were structured to meet the individual needs of the people who used the service. There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty to meet people’s needs. Recruitment practices were safe and relevant checks had been completed before staff commenced work. Staff received training and support to enable them to carry out their work in a skilled and confident way. This meant that people were supported by staff suitable in character and ability.

People lived in a safe and homely environment and the registered provider ensured it was properly maintained. Risk assessments were carried out and staff took steps to minimise risks without taking away people’s rights to make decisions. Support plans had been developed that provided clear guidance to staff as to how to support the positive management of behaviours that may challenge the service and others. Staff provided a consistent approach to situations that may be presented and protected people’s dignity and rights. People’s nutritional and dietary needs had been assessed and people were supported to plan their meals, shop for ingredients and prepare food.

Staff knew how to protect people from abuse and to keep them safe. The registered provider had policies and systems in place to manage risks and safeguard people from abuse. Medicines were ordered, stored, administered and disposed of safely.

People had contact with their GP and had attended routine health checks and accessed other health professionals as required. The service made appropriate and timely referrals to healthcare professionals and their recommendations were followed.

CQC is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), and to report on what we find. DoLS are a code of practice to supplement the main Mental Capacity Act 2005. These safeguards protect the rights of adults by ensuring if there are restrictions on their freedom and liberty these are assessed by the supervisory body. The registered manager and support staff had a good understanding about this and when it should be applied. Documentation in people’s support plans showed that when decisions had been made about a person’s care, and they lacked capacity, decisions had been made in the person’s best interests.

Where complaints had been reported, these were responded to appropriately and action had been taken to resolve them. A complaints policy was in place which was also available in easy read format to make it accessible for the people who used the service. There were systems in place to seek feedback from people who used the service and their relatives about the service provided.

A quality monitoring system was in place that consisted of stakeholder surveys, reviews, assessments and audits.