The inspection took place on the 9 May 2018. It was an unannounced visit to the service.

Magnolia 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.

Magnolia care home accommodates four people in the main house and two people are accommodated in the annex at the rear of the property. The service is registered for six people with a learning disability, mental health and other associated conditions. At the time of this inspection five people lived there.

This was the first inspection of the service since it was registered in November 2016. This was a comprehensive inspection to provide a rating for 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.

There was no registered manager in post at the time of the inspection. 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. The home had a manager who was in the process of applying to the Commission to be registered.

At this inspection we found the service was providing safe, effective, caring and responsive care in a service that was led-led. Relatives were happy with the care provided. They gave examples where their family member’s independence had increased and their health and well-being had improved.

People were safeguarded from potential abuse. Risks to them were identified and measures put in place to mitigate risks. Accident and incidents were appropriately managed, recorded and measures put in place to prevent reoccurrence.

Staff were suitably recruited, inducted, trained and supported. They were clear of their roles and responsibilities and worked well as part of team. They were welcoming, kind and caring in their interactions with people and responded to changes in individuals in a timely and supportive manner.

Systems were in place to promote safe medicine practices. People were supported to attend to their health needs and nutritional needs and risks were addressed.

The home was suitably maintained and the equipment provided was serviced and safe. Staff were trained in health and safety and infection control. However, some areas of the home were in need of a clean to prevent cross-infection.

People were assessed prior to admission and transitions into the service ran smoothly. Some people had care plans in place, whilst for two people, who were new to the home, their care plans were under development. Person-centred care was promoted and staff worked in a person-centred way in facilitating individual’s communication.

People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice. Staff worked to the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and promoted people’s involvement in their care, independence, choices and activities.

The provider had systems in place to audit the service and get feedback to improve practice. The manager was new to the service. They had an action plan in place which identified improvements they wanted to make. They were clear of their vision and values for the service and had brought about positive changes in the short time they had been in post. Systems were in place to promote communication with the team and external professionals