This inspection took place on 24 October 2018 and was unannounced.

New House is ‘care home’ registered to provide accommodation and support for up to eight adults who may have a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. At the time of the inspection there was eight people living there.

At our last inspection in March 2016, we rated the service overall good. At this inspection, the evidence continued to support the overall rating of good and 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.

Medicines were managed safely and staff had a good knowledge of the medicine systems and procedures in place to support this. Staff had been recruited safely and training was provided to meet the needs of people. Staff received supervision and annual appraisals. There was sufficient staff available to ensure people’s well-being and security was protected.

Staff received training on safeguarding adults from abuse and understood their responsibility to protect people from the risk of harm. The registered manager closely monitored all safeguarding matters. Accidents and incidents were responded to appropriately and monitored by the registered manager and quality assurance team. The service was clean and infection control measures were in place.

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 supported this practice.

People’s nutrition and hydration needs were catered for by trained staff who understood their needs well.

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.

People and their relatives were complimentary about the service. They were full of praise for the management and care staff and told us that they were kind, caring and compassionate towards them. There was a strong culture within the service of treating people with dignity and respect. People and the staff knew each other well and these relationships were valued by people who used the service.

The service was run very much around the needs of those living there. The registered manager and staff team demonstrated a commitment to person centred values. People’s wider support needs were met through the provision of a varied programme of activities. Staff were committed to ensure people were supported to maintain relationships important to them.

There was a complaints policy and procedure made available to people who received a service and their relatives. Feedback was sought from people and their relatives and this was positive.

There was a range of quality audits in place that were monitored by the quality assurance team. These were up-to-date and completed on a regular basis. Staff told us the manager was approachable and they felt proud to work in the service.

The premises of the service had been adapted to meet the needs of the people living there. There were systems in place to ensure the safety of the premises.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

This inspection took place on 7 March 2016 and was unannounced. We previously visited the service on 8 January 2014 and found that the registered provider met the regulations we assessed.

The service is registered to provide personal care and accommodation for up to eight adults with a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder, and on the day of the inspection there were eight people living at the home. The home is located in Beverley, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. It is close to town centre amenities and on good transport routes.

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 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.

Permanent staff confirmed that they received induction training when they were new in post and that they shadowed experienced staff before they worked unsupervised. This was confirmed in the records we saw on the day of the inspection. Staff told us they were happy with the training provided for them and the training record evidenced that most staff had completed training that was considered to be essential by the home.

People told us that they felt safe living at New House and we found that people were protected from the risks of harm or abuse because the registered provider had effective systems in place to manage any safeguarding issues. Staff were trained in safeguarding adults from abuse and understood their responsibilities in respect of protecting people from the risk of harm. We also saw care staff assisting people to mobilise on the day of the inspection and noted that mobility equipment was used correctly and safely.

We saw that people were encouraged to make their own decisions and when they needed support to make decisions, these had been made in their best interests.

New staff had been employed following the home’s recruitment and selection policies to ensure that only people considered suitable to work with vulnerable people had been employed. We saw that there were sufficient numbers of staff on duty to meet people’s individual needs, and to allow people to undertake their chosen activities.

Only senior staff at the home had responsibility for the administration of medication and there was evidence they had completed appropriate training. We saw that medication was administered, stored, recorded and disposed of safely.

People’s nutritional needs had been assessed and were recorded in their care plans, along with their likes and dislikes in respect of food and drink. People’s specific needs in respect of eating and drinking had been met.

The premises were being maintained in a safe condition and people told us they were able to find their way around the premises with no difficulty.

There were effective quality assurance systems in place that monitored the safety of the premises, that staff were following the home’s policies and procedures and that people were receiving the care they needed to meet their assessed needs.

During the day we spoke with four of the seven people who used the service, observed their daily activities including lunchtime and observed their interactions with staff. We spoke with staff and reviewed documentation including three care plans.

From what we observed and noted as part of the inspection staff cared for the people who used the service appropriately. Staff seemed patient and sensitive to peoples’ needs and showed an understanding of their likes and dislikes. People told us they liked living at New House, one person said “”I like it here” and another person said “Staff are here to help me”.

From what we observed and noted staff cared for the people who used the service appropriately. Food and drinks were specially prepared to ensure that people had a nutritious and balanced diet.

During our visit we saw that the home looked clean and tidy and there were infection control procedures in place.

The provider had systems in place to assess and monitor the quality of service that people received.

Records were found to be stored appropriately; they were accurate and were reviewed.

People we spoke with were happy with living in the home and confirmed to us that they felt safe in the home.

We observed the interactions between the staff team and the people who lived in the home and saw that these were positive and inclusive. Staff explained things to people and included people in conversations.

Staff had a good knowledge of people’s needs and person centred care records identified people's needs and wishes.

Staff had been trained on the Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults (SOVA) and demonstrated a good knowledge of this.

People were supported by staff who had received training that helped them keep up to date with their skills and who in turn were supported in their roles.

People felt able to raise any concerns to the staff team and systems were in place to support them with this.

We did not speak directly to people living at the home on this occasion.

People who were able told us they could go to bed when they chose and get up when they wanted to. They said they had choices about meals and what activities and outings to participate in.

They said they saw a doctor and nurse when they wanted to see them.

People spoken with told us the staff looked after them well. One person said they were happy living in the home and the staff were, “Nice.” One person said they were able to tell the staff if they were unhappy about anything.