This inspection took place on 21 March 2018 and was announced. This means we gave the registered provider 48 hours’ notice of our inspection to make sure the registered manager, some staff and some people receiving support would be available to meet and speak with us.

At the last inspection, we found the registered provider had a new quality assurance system in place, but this required further embedding into practice to ensure any potential areas requiring improvement were identified. We also made a recommendation about staff completing training in 'challenging behaviour' and 'conflict management'. At this inspection, we found the quality assurance system had been embedded into practice and was being used to improve the quality of the service and improvements had been made to staff training.

At the last inspection, we found that Mental Capacity Act (2005) guidelines were difficult for the registered provider to follow, as local authority court of protection orders were not always forthcoming. At this inspection, we found the registered manager continued to work with the local authority to ensure people's rights were maintained and protected, and their liberty was not being restricted illegally.

Longley Hall Limited is registered to provide personal care and comprises of one self-contained flat and four flats, which share a communal area. The service provides 24 hour support to people using the service. The service office is located in an annex between the flats. At the time of the inspection, the service supported 13 people and employed 21 support workers. The property has accessible gardens with seating and is in close proximity of Longley Park and public transport.

This service provides care and support to people living in ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live in their own home as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

The care service has been developed and designed 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 using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

At the time of our inspection 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.’

People receiving support at Longley Hall told us they felt safe and they liked the staff. Some people who we spoke with did not use verbal communication. They expressed their happiness and satisfaction with the care they received by facial expression (smile), body languages and gestures. When we asked them if they felt safe, they expressed a positive response by holding their thumbs up. The reading of their body language was that they were happy, content and felt safe.

Staff were provided with training and information about safeguarding people. They knew what was meant by abuse and their responsibilities for reporting any concerns they had about people's safety. Risks people faced, including in the event of an emergency had been identified and plans were in place detailing how to minimise the likelihood of harm occurring.

Safe recruitment procedures were followed. Applicants were required to provide information about their previous work history, skills and qualifications and they were subject to a range of pre-employment checks. This information was used to assess their suitably and fitness to work with vulnerable people.

There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified

This inspection was carried out on 30 September 2016 and was unannounced. This meant the registered provider and staff did not know we would be attending. One Adult Social Care (ASC) inspector carried out the inspection. The service was last inspected on 23 April 2013 and was found to be meeting all the regulations we reviewed.

Longley Hall Limited provides supported accommodation for people with learning disabilities and people on the autistic spectrum or people with a dual-diagnosis aged 18-65 years. It includes one self-contained flat and four flats with shared space and provides 24 hour support. At the time of the inspection the service supported 16 people. The property has accessible gardens with seating and is in close proximity to Longley park and public transport

The registered provider is required to have a registered manager in post and on the day of the inspection there was a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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 registered provider had a new quality assurance system in place, but this required further embedding so that audits were able to identify potential areas for improvement.

The registered manager was able to demonstrate they had an understanding of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and the Court of Protection. However, we found that Mental Capacity Act (2005) guidelines were difficult for the registered provider to follow, as local authority court of protection orders were not always forthcoming.

We saw that staff completed an induction process and they had received a wide range of training, which covered courses the service deemed essential, such as safeguarding, medication and MCA. However, only three staff had completed training in ‘challenging behaviour’ and ‘conflict management’. We made a recommendation about this is in the report.

We found that staff had a good knowledge of how to keep people safe from harm and we found that the recording and administration of medicines was being managed appropriately in the service. Staff had been employed following appropriate recruitment and selection processes.

Assessments of risk had been completed for each person and plans had been put in place to minimise risk. The service was clean, tidy and free from odour and effective cleaning schedules were in place.

People's nutritional needs were met. We saw people enjoyed a good choice of food and drink and were provided with snacks and refreshments throughout the day. People told us they were well cared for and we found people were supported to maintain good health and had access to services from healthcare professionals.

People had their health and social care needs assessed and care and support was planned and delivered in line with their individual care needs. Care plans were individualised to include preferences, likes and dislikes and contained detailed information about how each person should be supported.

People were offered a variety of different activities to be involved in. People were also supported to go out of the home to access facilities in the local community.

The registered provider had a complaints policy and procedure in place and there were systems in place to seek feedback from people and their relatives about the service provided.

During our inspection we found that some people who used the service had complex needs and were not able to verbally communicate their views and experiences to us. These individuals were reliant on staff to meet their physical, emotional and social needs. People who could communicate with us told us that staff treated people with respect, protected their dignity and had professional, positive relationships.

Each person we spoke with who used the service told us the staff were friendly and polite. One person said, "I like it here, staff are nice."

The provider had suitable arrangements in place to ensure that people who used the service were safeguarded against the risk of abuse. People we spoke with said that they felt safe and supported by the staff.

The provider had a satisfactory recruitment and selection procedure in place to ensure that staff were appropriately employed.

The provider had a system in place to deal with comments and complaints. People who used the service could be confident that their comments and complaints were listened to.