This inspection took place on 21 and 22 June 2017 and was unannounced. At the time of our inspection seven people lived at Bredon House.

At the last inspection on 20 May 2015 the service was rated as good, and since then, has remained a good service.

There was a registered manager in place at the time of our 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.

Staff knew how to protect people from harm. We found staff recognised the signs of abuse and knew how to report this. There were risk assessments in place and staff understood the importance of these and took actions to reduce the risk to people without taking away people’s right to make decisions about their care. People told us the service ensured there were enough staff to support their needs. People were supported with their medicines in a safe way while promoting people’s independence to manage these.

People received care and support which met their needs and preferences, and in line with their agreement and staff understood the importance of this. We found people were supported to eat a healthy diet which was tailored to their individual preferences. Staff worked well with external healthcare professionals and were guided by them in the support they gave to people.

People’s views and decisions were listened to and staff acted upon these. People felt the staff team treated them in a kind and friendly way, and with respect.

The provider had provided people with information around how to raise a complaint should they need to. People told us when they had raised concerns these were responded to with a satisfactory outcome. Where people had a complaint this had been responded to by the provider and actions taken to address this.

Staff felt supported by the registered manager to carry out their roles and responsibilities effectively, through training and daily contact with them. We found checks the registered manager completed on the service focused upon the experiences of people. Where areas for improvement were identified, systems were in place to ensure lessons were learnt and used to improve staff practice.

This inspection took place on 19 May 2015 and was unannounced. Bredon House is a support service providing accommodation and personal care for up to eight younger adults with a learning disability. There were five people who lived at the service on the day of our visit. Bredon House consists of eight individual self–contained flats each with a bedroom, en-suite bathroom, kitchen/diner and lounge.

There was a manager in place who was in the process of registering with the Care Quality Commission to become a registered manager. 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.

People lived in a safe environment and were protected from harm as staff knew how to protect them from abuse. We found that when staff reported abuse the registered manager took action. They worked with external agencies to ensure people were kept safe from harm. Staff made sure risk assessments were carried out and took steps to minimise risks without taking away people’s right to make decisions.

We found there sufficient staff on duty to meet people’s needs. People told us that staff supported them when they required it and felt happy with the level of support they received. Regular reviews of people’s care and support needs ensured that appropriate staffing levels was in place. Staff felt there were enough staff on duty to meet people’s needs and keep them safe.

People were supported to manage their medicines in a safe way. People’s independence with medicines was encouraged in a way that kept people safe. We found that medicines were handled and stored in a safe way.

We found that people received care and support that was in-line with their needs and preferences. Care and support was provided to people with their consent and agreement. Staff understood and recognised the importance of this. We found people were supported to eat a healthy balanced diet. We found that people had access to healthcare professionals, such as the dentist and their doctor when they required them.

We saw that people were involved in the planning around their care. People’s views and decisions they had made about their care were listened to and acted upon. For example, it was recognised during a review of a person’s care that ready meals were relied upon. Support and advice was provided to the person with their agreement further cookery courses to develop their cooking skills.

People told us that staff treated them kindly, with dignity and their privacy was respected. For example, people had their own key to their flat and their own post-box for their personal post. We found that staff respected people’s choice if they wished to remain in their own flat.

We found that people knew how to complain and felt comfortable to do this should they have needed to. Where the provider had received complaints, these had been responded to. Learning had been taken from complaints received and actions were put into place to address these.

The provider demonstrated clear leadership. Staff were supported to carry out their roles and responsibilities effectively, which meant that people’s received care and support in-line with their needs and wishes. We also found that communication had been encouraged between people and staff, which improved the effective and responsiveness of the care provided to people.

We found that the checks the provider completed focused on the experience people received. Where areas for improvement were identified, systems were in place to ensure that lessons were learnt and used to improve staff practice.

Eight people lived at the home when we carried out this inspection. However some people were out visiting family for a few days and other people were out for the day.

The registered manager was on annual leave however attended for a period of time. We spoke with a team leader who had deputising responsibilities, another team leader and one member of staff who was employed as a life skills instructor.

We were informed that people who used the service did not require any physical assistance with their personal care. Staff assisted people to build on their social skills, gain confidence and independence. Following our inspection the registered manager told us that people needed to be prompted to carry out some of their own personal care and assistance with their emotional needs.

Following our inspection we had a further conversation with the team leader and the life skills instructor on the telephone. One person who was at home on the day of our inspection was willing to speak with us. They told us: “We are all happy here”.

Staff we spoke with were aware of their responsibilities to report any actual or allegations of abuse which involved safeguarding to relevant people and authorities.

We found that prescribed medicines were given to people appropriately to maintain their wellbeing.

Staff received training and supervision to help them provide care and support to people who used the service.