The inspection of Laurel Court took place on 31 July and 2 August 2017 and was announced. We told the provider that we would be coming because we needed to be certain there would be people in the service for us to talk with. The service was last inspected on 2 March 2015 and at that time was meeting the regulations.

Laurel Court is a supported living environment for adults who have learning disabilities, physical disabilities or sensory impairment. It has 26 flats which, on the day of the inspection, were occupied by 19 permanent tenants and two were for emergency or respite use.

At the last inspection the service was rated Good overall and Outstanding in well-led. At this inspection we found the service remained Good and Outstanding in well- led and the service met all relevant fundamental standards.

Staff understood how to keep people safe and were aware of the process to follow if they had any concerns. Risks had been assessed and recorded to ensure people were protected from harm without overly restricting people’s freedom.

People were supported 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 support this practice.

Staff received on-going support from the management team through a programme of regular supervision and appraisal and they had been trained to ensure they had the knowledge and skills to care for people.

Food and drink was tailored to people's individual needs and we observed staff supporting people appropriately to maintain their nutritional and hydration needs where required.

Positive relationships between staff and people who lived at Laurel Court were evident. People's independence was promoted well by staff who understood how to maximise their independence.

People spoke highly of all the support staff and enjoyed living in Laurel Court. We saw lots of evidence that people were actively involved in arranging their support and staff facilitated this on a daily basis.

There was clear evidence of person-centred care. People were involved in activities based upon their established routines and preferences. Care records contained detailed information on how to support people.

We saw evidence of strong governance with robust systems in place to address any concerns and promote improvement. The service was led by an enthusiastic registered manager whose values were reflected in the quality of the support provided.

The registered manager embedded reflective practice within the team to drive forward quality improvement within the service

The registered manager was visible in the service and communication was open, honest and transparent. Staff had clear direction and were sure about their roles and responsibilities. Systems and processes for ensuring the quality of the service were securely and effectively in place.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

The inspection of Laurel Court took place on 2 March 2015 and was announced. We told the provider that we would be coming because we needed to be certain there would be people in the service for us to talk to. This was Laurel Court’s first inspection as it had only been registered with the Care Quality Commission since 21 February 2014.

Laurel Court is a supported living environment for adults under 65 years who have learning disabilities, physical disabilities and sensory impairment. It has 26 flats which, on the day of the inspection, were occupied by 24 permanent residents and two were for emergency or respite use.

There was a registered manager who had been registered since 4 March 2014. 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.

On the day of our inspection we found the service to be safe as it had measures in place to safeguard people from harm and potential abuse. We spoke with knowledgeable staff who told us how they would identify possible abuse and what action was required if they suspected this to be the case. The service had comprehensive and current risk assessments in place which evidenced discussions between the people using the service and the staff.

We found reliable staffing ratios which allowed for the service to run smoothly. People told us they were able to undertake all the activities they wished and had support with their medicines where required.

We found staff to have received an appropriate induction, supervision and training which allowed them to fulfil their roles to their maximum potential. This was reflected in the wider management of the service where it was evident the registered manager was keen to ensure the service was always seeking best practice and was supporting staff to achieve this.

The registered manager had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLs). These safeguards make sure that people who lack capacity are not deprived of their liberty unlawfully and are protected.

People spoke highly of all the support staff and enjoyed living in Laurel Court. We saw lots of evidence that people were actively involved in arranging their support and staff facilitated this on a daily basis.

There was a comprehensive activity schedule running alongside the support offered to individual people. This was shaped by people using the service and reflected a service that was promoting empowerment.

We saw evidence of strong governance with robust systems in place to support any concerns and promote improvement. The service was led by an enthusiastic registered manager whose values were reflected in the quality of the support provided.