We inspected the service on 3 January 2018. The inspection was unannounced.

Loreto Cottage is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Loreto Cottage accommodates 15 people living learning disabilities and or an autistic spectrum disorder. On the day of our inspection 13 people were living at the service.

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.

Since our last inspection there had been a change to the registered manager. The previous registered manager had de-registered and was the home manager who had day to day responsibility for the service. A new registered manager was in place who was also the registered manager for the provider’s second service. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (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.

During the home’s previous inspection in December 2016 we identified two breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) 2014 and one breach of the Registration Regulations 2009. Following this inspection the registered provider was required to send us an action plan, to inform us of the action they would take to make the required improvements. We also identified further improvements were required in all the key areas we reviewed.

The breaches in regulation identified in 2016 were; Regulation 13 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) 2014. This was in relation to the way people were safeguarded from avoidable harm and abuse. Regulation 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) 2014. The registered person had implemented some systems to assess and monitor and improve checks on quality and safety but these were not as effective as they should have been. Regulation 18 of the Registration Regulations 2009. The registered person had failed to notify the Care Quality Commission of incidents of abuse in relation to people using the service.

During this inspection we checked to see whether improvements had been made, we found the breaches in regulation had been met and all areas of the service had improved resulting in positive outcomes for people.

People received safe care and support. Staff had received safeguarding refresher training and had information and instruction of how to respond to any allegations or suspicions of abuse. Risks in relation to people's needs including the environment were assessed, planned for and monitored. Some improvements had been made to the environment that increased safety and supported people’s needs. There were sufficient staff employed and deployed to support people. People received their prescribed medicines safely and these were managed appropriately. People lived in a clean, hygienic service and the registered manager agreed to review the prevention and control of infections policy and procedure guidance. Staff supported people effectively during periods of anxiety that affected their mood and behaviour. Accidents and incidents were reported, monitored and reviewed to consider the action required to reduce further reoccurrence.

People received an effective service because their needs were assessed and understood by staff. Staff received an appropriate induction, ongoing training and the frequency of formal supervision meetings had increased. People

We carried out an unannounced inspection of the service on 7 and 9 December 2016.

Loreto Cottage provides accommodation and personal care for up to 15 people living with a learning disability. On the day of our inspection there were 13 people who used the service.

A registered manager was in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (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.

At our last inspection in October 2015 we found the provider was in breach of one Regulation of the Health and Social Care Act 2008. This was in relation to the systems in place that assessed monitored quality and safety and mitigated risks to people who used the service. The provider sent us an action plan detailing what action they would take to become compliant with this regulation. At this inspection we found the provider had implemented some changes but these were not fully effective. This therefore meant that this regulation had not been completely met and continues to be a breach.

People and relatives told us that staff supported them safely and that Loreto Cottage was a safe environment. Staff were aware of their role and responsibilities in protecting people from harm and had recorded safeguarding incidents appropriately. The registered manager had not adhered to the local authority safeguarding policy and procedure to report safeguarding incidents. Nor had they taken action to analyse incidents for trends and patterns to reduce further risks to people.

Safety concerns were identified with the environment that had not been assessed. This included fire door exists not being alarmed, radiators being hot and not protected to reduce injury to people, there was no visitors signing in and out book and the external environment had potential risks that had not been fully risk assessed. Risks to people’s needs had not always been assessed appropriately or risk plans put in place to manage known risks.

Some staff felt staffing levels were a concern due to the additional domestic tasks they had to complete and the impact this had on spending time with people. Agency staff were used to cover any staff shortfalls such as sickness and vacancies.

Improvements had been made to the administration and management of medicines. However, the medicine policy and procedure had not been updated and reviewed. This was a recommendation made in January 2016 by the local clinical commissioning group following their pharmacy and medicines management review at the service.

Staff received an induction on commencement of their employment. However, one member of staff that started at the service during 2016 did not have any documentation that confirmed they had completed an induction. Staff received appropriate training but support continued to be informal, a concern identified at the last inspection. The registered manager was unable to effectively monitor staff performance and needs.

People had not signed their support plans to show that they had given consent to their care and support or had been involved in discussions and decisions about how their needs were met. The principles of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) were understood by staff. Whilst we saw examples of MCA assessments and best interest documentation, we were aware that some people’s mental capacity to consent to aspects of their care and support had reduced. Records did not show that people’s changing capacity had been considered and reassessed.

The registered manager had submitted one Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) application. However, this was found during the inspection not to have been received by the supervisory body and had to be resubmitted.

People were supported with their dietary and nutritional needs but it was not c

There were fourteen people using the service at the time of our inspection. Ten people were out at work when we arrived, but returned to the home late afternoon.

We found that people had been informed about their care and treatment and had signed consent forms if they were able. When people lacked the capacity to make decisions we saw that they had been supported appropriately. We also found that people's care and treatment had been planned, reviewed and delivered to meet their care needs.

We spoke with three people who lived at the home. One person told us; "I like it here, I feel safe". Another person said; "I know how to complain, I would tell my family".

We found that the arrangements for the management of medicines were inadequate. We also found that the provider had not ensured there were always enough staff on duty to provide care for people.

You can see our judgements on the front page of this report.

We talked to five people who live at Loreto Cottage and one visitor who is a relative of an individual who lives there. The people who live at Loreto cottage told us that enjoy living there and feel included in the life of the home. One person told us that “I like living here”, another told us the home was “nice and cosy”, and another told us “I know everybody. We work together.”

People we spoke to told us that they feel secure at Loreto cottage. One person told us they feel “very safe here.” People told us they enjoy a range of opportunities to engage in recreational and learning activities. One person told us about the range of college courses they have taken. Another person told us that they “like to go to the club in the minibus with (the manager).”

A relative of a person who uses the service spoke highly of the quality of care and the welcoming attitude of Loreto cottage staff. They described the care provided as respectful and focused on the individual. They told us they feel “very fortunate” that their relative lives at Loreto Cottage and advised us that the staff “try to involve people as much as possible” in care planning and delivery.

We carried out an unannounced inspection of the service on 2 and 5 October 2015.

Loreto Cottage provides accommodation and personal care for up to 15 people living with a learning disability.

Loreto Cottage is required to have 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. At the time of the inspection a registered manager was in post.

At our last inspection in January 2013 we found the provider was in breach of two Regulations of the Health and Social Care Act 2008. This was in relation to the management of medicines and staffing levels. At this inspection we found the provider met these breaches in regulation. However, some improvements were identified as required to ensure sustainability in these areas.

At this inspection people who used the service and relatives we spoke with said that people were cared for safely. The provider had a safe recruitment procedure in place that ensured people were cared for by suitable staff. Staff were aware of the safeguarding procedures in place to protect people from avoidable harm and abuse.

Accidents and incidents were recorded and appropriate action was taken to reduce further risks. This included referrals to healthcare professionals for further advice and support in meeting people’s needs.

CQC is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and to report on what we find. This is legislation that protects people who are unable to make specific decisions about their care and treatment. It ensures best interest decisions are made correctly and a person’s liberty and freedom is not unlawfully restricted. Staff were aware of the principles of this legislation. MCA assessments and best interest decisions had been made for some people. We identified that the registered manager needed to take action in relation to the DoLS. This action was taken during our inspection.

People received sufficient to eat and drink. This included appropriate support to eat and drink and independence was promoted.

Staff were knowledgeable about people’s healthcare needs and people were supported to access healthcare services to maintain their health.

Staff received informal support but limited formal support where they could discuss and review their learning and development needs. Staff received an induction and ongoing training. However, some shortfalls were identified with the monitoring of training.

People and relatives we spoke with were positive about the care and approach of staff. Some observations of care provided by staff were caring and compassionate but some inconsistences of the quality of care provided were identified. People’s preferences, routines and what was important to them had been assessed. Support was provided to enable people to pursue their interests and hobbies.

People were not actively involved in the development and review of the care and support they received.

The provider had a complaints procedure but this was not easily accessible for people. Confidentiality was maintained and there were no restrictions on visitors.

The provider did not have effective checks and audits in place that monitored the quality and safety of the service. Whilst relatives had received opportunities to give their feedback about the service people that used the service had not received this opportunity.

We found the service was in breach of one of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.