Mornington House is a small care home registered to support people with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder and can accommodate up to 8 adults who need support to live independent lives. Bedrooms are situated on the ground and the first floor and a lift is fitted for people who have mobility problems.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good. There was no evidence or information from our inspection and on-going monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

At the time of the inspection there were 8 people receiving a service. The service refers to people who use the service as “service users” so we will refer to them as such throughout this report.

There was an appropriate safeguarding policy and procedure in place and staff had received training and were clear about their roles when asked about this during the inspection visit.

Staff were recruited through a robust procedure and there was a settled team in place with a low turnover of staff.

Medication was administered safely with clear systems and procedures in place. Service users were encouraged to manage their own medication where appropriate and this was monitored and reviewed to ensure that it was appropriate.

Service user’s care and support needs had been thoroughly assessed. Care plans demonstrated the service user’s involvement and were written in line with their needs and this was acknowledged by the service users that we spoke with during the inspection visit. The service was flexible and care plans could be altered to suit the persons changing needs.

The service was working within the legal requirements of The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). Service Users were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives with the right balance between empowerment and protection.

Service users told us the staff team were kind and friendly and that they were involved in the planning of their care and support and in reviews about this.

The service produced a welcome pack which included information about the service.

There was a human rights policy in place and service users reported being treated with dignity and respect and this was also observed as being integral to the service during the inspection.

Service users were supported to follow their interests and hobbies, both in the home and in the community. This was evident in both the care plans and what service users told us.

There was a relevant complaints procedure that was accessible. There had been no recent complaints. The service had received a number of compliments from service users and their families.

There was a strong management structure in place that was visible and accessible. Staff felt supported by the management team and reported a high level of job satisfaction. Staff supervisions and meetings were held on a regular basis and encouraged an open learning culture.

Service user feedback was sought regularly including before every service user meeting.

Audits and quality checks were undertaken on a regular basis and any issues or concerns addressed with appropriate actions.

The service was committed to partnership working and is involved in local groups where best practice and learning are shared between providers in the local area.

Mornington House is registered to accommodate up to eight younger adults with learning disabilities who need support to lead independent lives. Bedrooms are situated on the ground and first floors and a lift is available for people who have mobility problems. Car parking space is available at the side of the house and there is a small garden area.

We last inspected this service on 14 January 2014 and found the regulations we assessed were being met.

The home had 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.

We found that people living at Mornington House felt safe. Staffing levels were flexible according to people’s care needs and any activities planned both within the home and the local community. People who used the service told us there was always a sufficient number of staff on duty to meet their needs.

Safeguarding procedures were robust and members of staff were clear about their role in safeguarding the people they supported. People who used the service were reminded at their regular meetings what they should do if they had any concerns.

Recruitment procedures were thorough and protected people from the employment of unsuitable staff. People who used the service were involved with interviewing applicants and their views were taken into account in the selection process.

We saw that medication was managed safely and ensured that people received their medicines as prescribed by their doctor. Members of staff responsible for the administration of medicines had received training and their practice was regularly assessed to ensure correct procedures were followed.

Members of staff told us they were supported by management and received regular training to ensure they had the skills and knowledge to provide effective care for people who used the service. Staff had also received training about the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Although there were no authorisations for DoLS in place members of staff knew when an application should be made and how to submit one.

People who used the service told us the meals were good and snacks and drinks were available throughout the day. We found that people’s weight and nutrition was monitored so that prompt action could be taken if any problems were identified.

Throughout the inspection we saw that members of staff treated people with dignity and respect and spoke to people in a polite and friendly manner. People told us they got on well with the staff team.

We found that people’s individual care plans were person centred and tailored to the needs and wishes of each person. Care plans included detailed information about people’s personal preferences, interests and diverse needs. These plans were reviewed regularly and amended when necessary to reflect people’s changing needs.

Managers and staff worked closely with other health and social care professionals including the learning disabilities team in order to ensure that people’s needs were met.

People who used the service told us they enjoyed leisure activities within the home and in the local community. These included voluntary work, college courses, bowling, shopping and swimming. Trips to local attractions and holidays were arranged.

People were encouraged to express their views about any aspect of life at the home at their monthly meetings. Any reasonable requests made by people who used the service were permitted by the registered manager.

The complaints procedure was displayed in the home and discussed at the monthly meetings with people who used the service. Records confirmed there had been no complaints in the last year.

Systems were in place for the management team to monitor the quality and safety of the care provided. We saw that audits completed regularly covered all aspects of the service provided.

The members of staff we asked told us they enjoyed working at Mornington House. They said that they were treated fairly and felt supported by the management team and their colleagues.

We did not speak with any people using the services as part of this inspection.

We received an action plan with details of how the provider was going to meet the areas of non-compliance. During this inspection we found that the provider had met the areas of non-compliance from the previous inspection in September 2013.

We were unable to speak with the any people using the service during the inspection because most of the people were out, either at day centres or on activities.

We observed some people as they returned to the home for a brief period . We saw that the people using the service looked happy and well cared for. We saw friendly and caring interactions between the staff and the people using the service.

In this report the name of a Registered Manager appears who was not in post and not managing the regulatory activities at this location at the time of the inspection. Their name appears because they were still a Registered Manager on our register at the time.

We spoke with one person who was living at the home. He told us the staff treated him well and he enjoyed the environment and living with the other people. He confirmed he was involved in his care planning process and that he had no complaints. He told us “If I ever need to raise anything, I speak with the staff who sort it out.”