This was an unannounced inspection which took place on 05 September 2018.

Heathcotes Wendover House is a care home (without nursing) which is registered to provide a service for up to seven people with learning disabilities. There were five people (including a person who was in hospital) living in the home on the day of the inspection. Some people had associated difficulties such as being on the autistic spectrum and needing support with behaviours.

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 provided and both were looked at during this inspection.

Heathcotes Wendover House accommodates people in a large adapted building. Everyone had an en- suite bath or shower room. The service was run 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 can lead as ordinary a life as any citizen.

The service was registered on 08 August 2017 and this was the first inspection.

People were protected from abuse. Staff training in safeguarding people was provided and annual refreshers were planned to be provided. Staff fully understood their responsibilities with regard to people’s safety and knew what action to take if they identified any concerns. The service identified health and safety, safe working practices and individual risks to people. All aspects of safety were considered and actions were taken to assist people to remain as safe as possible.

People were supported by high staffing ratios which enabled staff to meet people’s specific needs, including any relating to diversity and/or special needs, safely. Recruitment systems made sure, that as far as possible, staff recruited were safe and suitable to work with people. People were supported to take their medicines, at the right times and in the right amounts by staff who were trained and competent to do so.

People were offered effective care by an appropriately trained staff team. They met people’s diverse needs including their current and changing health and emotional well-being needs. The service worked with health and other professionals to ensure they offered individuals the best care they could.

People were assisted to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The staff team were caring, patient and committed to meeting people’s complex needs with kindness and respect. They ensured they promoted people’s privacy and dignity and communicated with them effectively.

The service was person centred and responsive to people’s diverse, individualised needs and aspirations. Activity programmes met people’s needs, preferences and choices and were further improving to become more varied and imaginative.

Care planning was individualised and regularly reviewed which ensured people’s current needs were met and their equality and diversity was respected. The service was not always responsive to people’s family and friends and did not always identify and respond appropriately to complaints.

The service had a registered manager who was registered on 27 July 2018. This was the fourth manager since registration which had contributed to some instability in the service. The quality of care the service provided was assessed, reviewed and was being improved as the service stabilised. The management team did not tolerate any form of discrimination relating to staff or people who live in the service.