This was an unannounced inspection and took place on 28 February and 1 March 2017.

Hunters Lodge is a residential care home which provides nursing and personal care to adults with learning difficulties. The home has a maximum occupancy of 9.

At the time of our inspection the home 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

At the last inspection in December 2016 the home met all the key questions and was rated good in each with an overall good rating. At this inspection the home met all the key questions and was rated good in each with an overall good rating.

People told us they liked living at Hunters Lodge and the way that staff treated and supported them. People chose their own activities and when to do them. They felt safe living at the home and using facilities within the local community. When we visited there was a friendly, warm, and welcoming and atmosphere with people using the service coming from and going to activities. Frequent positive interaction took place between people using the service and staff. There was a variety of home and community based activities.

The records were accessible, up to date and covered all aspects of the care and support people received. This included their choices, activities and safety. People’s care plans were complete and the information contained was regularly reviewed. This enabled staff to perform their duties efficiently and professionally. People were encouraged to discuss their health needs with staff and had access to GP’s and other community based health professionals, as required. Staff supported people to choose healthy meal options and maintain balanced diets whilst meeting their likes, dislikes and preferences. This enabled them to be protected from nutrition and hydration associated risks. People told us that they liked the choice and quality of their meals.

People knew the staff that supported them well and the staff were very familiar with people, their likes, dislikes and preferences. They were well supported and enjoyed the way staff delivered their care. The care and support staff provided was professional, friendly and focussed on people as individuals and staff had appropriate skills to do so. The staff were well trained and accessible to people using the service. Staff said they liked working at the home and had received good training and support from the manager.

People said the management team was approachable, responsive and listened to them. The quality of the service provided was consistently monitored and assessed.

This was an unannounced inspection and took place on 28 February and 1 March 2017.

Hunters Lodge is a residential care home which provides nursing and personal care to adults with learning difficulties. The home has a maximum occupancy of 9.

At the time of our inspection the home 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

At the last inspection in December 2016 the home met all the key questions and was rated good in each with an overall good rating. At this inspection the home met all the key questions and was rated good in each with an overall good rating.

People told us they liked living at Hunters Lodge and the way that staff treated and supported them. People chose their own activities and when to do them. They felt safe living at the home and using facilities within the local community. When we visited there was a friendly, warm, and welcoming and atmosphere with people using the service coming from and going to activities. Frequent positive interaction took place between people using the service and staff. There was a variety of home and community based activities.

The records were accessible, up to date and covered all aspects of the care and support people received. This included their choices, activities and safety. People’s care plans were complete and the information contained was regularly reviewed. This enabled staff to perform their duties efficiently and professionally. People were encouraged to discuss their health needs with staff and had access to GP’s and other community based health professionals, as required. Staff supported people to choose healthy meal options and maintain balanced diets whilst meeting their likes, dislikes and preferences. This enabled them to be protected from nutrition and hydration associated risks. People told us that they liked the choice and quality of their meals.

People knew the staff that supported them well and the staff were very familiar with people, their likes, dislikes and preferences. They were well supported and enjoyed the way staff delivered their care. The care and support staff provided was professional, friendly and focussed on people as individuals and staff had appropriate skills to do so. The staff were well trained and accessible to people using the service. Staff said they liked working at the home and had received good training and support from the manager.

People said the management team was approachable, responsive and listened to them. The quality of the service provided was consistently monitored and assessed.

We were concerned at our last inspection that staff did not receive appropriate professional development and some staff told us they did not feel supported by the management.

At this inspection staff told us they felt supported by the management and were given the opportunity to raise issues relating to their personal and professional development during staff and supervision meetings. We saw evidence that regular staff and supervision meetings were held. Staff received relevant training and were given the opportunity to obtain further relevant qualifications.

We found that people were cared for by staff who were supported to deliver care and treatment safely and to an appropriate standard.

We observed that before people received any care or treatment they were asked for their consent and staff acted in accordance with their wishes. The comments we received about the service, and the care people received were mainly positive. One person said of the care they received, "on the whole it's very good." Another told us, "I love it here. I love the staff, the manager and the food. I go out every day." A relative told us, "they look after her very well." We saw evidence that people's needs were assessed and care and treatment planned and delivered in accordance with their care plan.

We found the provider had taken reasonable steps to protect people from abuse. Although not all staff had received training in safeguarding vulnerable adults recently, they had a good knowledge about the signs and types of abuse and knew what action to take if they had concerns that people were at risk of abuse. People using the service told us they felt safe.

We found that there were effective recruitment and selection processes in place and that appropriate checks were undertaken before staff began work. However, we were concerned that some staff did not feel supported by the management and we found evidence which confirmed this. The majority of staff did not receive regular supervision, appraisal or training.

We reviewed records relating to people using the service, staff and the management of the service. We found the records were accurate and fit for purpose.

Eight people were living at Hunters Lodge at the time of our visit. All of the people we spoke to said they happy at the home; many had lived there for a long time.

We were shown some of the rooms of people who live at the service. Rooms had been individually decorated, with personal photographs on display, although staff told us this was due to personal preference. People again told us they were happy with their rooms.

People told us they went out regularly to day centres, college, on shopping trips, swimming, bowling, and do arts and crafts.

We saw photos of holidays everyone in the home had been on together, including to Jamaica. People told us they greatly enjoyed the holidays. The manager explained that they reach agreement each year as to the destination.

People who use the service had differing communication abilities, however they were able to express their wishes and opinions to a staff team that understood them.