Oakwood provides accommodation and personal care for up to seven people with a learning disability and complex needs such as autism. Oakwood is a purpose built building with three flats and four rooms. At the time of our inspection there were seven gentlemen living in the home.

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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. The registered manager assisted us during our inspection.

At our last inspection in February 2016 we found two breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. We asked the provider to take action in relation to ensure they followed the requirements in relation to consent and good governance. Following the inspection the provider submitted an action plan to us to tell us how they planned to address these concerns. We carried out this inspection to check if the provider had made the changes required. We found that improvements had been made in all areas and the regulations were now being met.

People lived in an environment that had been personalised for them and they were cared for by staff who knew them well. People were provided with respect, dignity and person-centred care. Staff supported people to eat a good range of foods and those with a specific dietary requirement had their needs met.

Staff ensured when people required it external health care professional involvement was sought. People received the medicines they required and staff followed good medicine management processes. There was a sufficient number of staff present to help ensure people received the care and support they required, both within the home and when going out to activities.

Activities for people were personalised and individualised and staff encouraged people to be independent and make decisions for themselves whenever possible. People’s care plans were person-centred and people were encouraged in developing them.

Staff were following the legal requirements to make sure that any decisions made or restrictions to people were taken in the person’s best interests. People were supported to give their views in relation to the care they received.

Staff received a range of training and told us they had regular supervision with their line manager. Staff met regularly to discuss all aspects of the home and they told us they felt listened to by the registered manager. There was guidance in place for staff on how to evacuate people in the event of an emergency.

Accidents/incidents were recorded and reviewed by the registered manager and the provider’s services manager. Actions were taken when appropriate to help ensure that accidents/incidents did not reoccur. Where people were at risk of harm, risk assessments had been drawn up to help ensure people were protected from these risks. Staff knew what action to take in respond to any suspected safeguarding concerns and the provider had carried out appropriate checks to help ensure only suitable staff worked in the home.

Quality assurance audits were carried out to help ensure the care provided was of a standard people should expect. A complaints procedure was available for any concerns.

Oakwood is a home which provides care and support for up to seven people who have a learning disability, such as autism, or epilepsy or a sensory impairment. The home is divided into shared and independent living. At the time of our visit there were seven people living at the home. Four people lived in the shared area and three people lived in their own flats within the home.

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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. The registered manager was not present during our inspection and we were assisted by the Trust service manager and other staff.

Quality assurance procedures were in place and audits were undertaken by both the staff and the provider. However, not all feedback received by staff was acted on promptly. For example, the personalisation of people’s rooms.

Staff understood the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) to ensure decisions were made for people in the least restrictive way. However where there were restrictions in place staff had not always followed legal requirements to make sure this was done in the person’s best interests. We found that mental capacity assessments had not always been carried out for people for specific decisions.

Although staff worked in a confident and independent way they were not always provided with training specific to the needs of people. For example, training in autism.

We saw staff had good relationships with people. It was evident staff knew people well and were knowledgeable in relation to their individual likes and dislikes. When people wished time on their own staff respected this. For example, when someone spent time in the sensory room.

People were safe living at Oakwood as staff carried out appropriate checks to make sure that any risks of harm were identified and managed. For example, when someone needed equipment to assist them with walking.

Staff knew how to safeguard people from abuse. They were able to tell us what they would do in such an event. We saw information for people around safeguarding displayed in a way they could access. In the event of an emergency and people needed to be evacuated from the home staff had guidance to follow. People would be moved to another of the Trust homes should the home need to be evacuated. Staff were up to date with fire training and carried out fire drills.

There were enough staff deployed in the home. Where people required two to one, or one to one care we saw this happen. We did not see anyone having to wait to be assisted by staff and there were always enough staff on hand to support people when they needed it.

People received their medicines in a safe way. People were involved in choosing the food they ate and some were encouraged to be independent by doing their own cooking. People had access to information on how to make a complaint should they wish to.

Appropriate checks were carried out to help ensure only suitable staff worked in the home. Staff were involved in running the home as they had the opportunity to meet together to discuss all aspects of the home. Staff met regularly with their line manager to discuss their individual work.

Professional involvement was sought by staff when appropriate in order to maintain good health for people. Activities were planned in an individualised, meaningful way for people. Activities took place both inside and outside of the home.

During the inspection we found two breaches 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.