Ormesby House provides accommodation and support for a maximum of 10 adults with a learning disability or autistic spectrum needs. At the time of this inspection there were nine people living at the home. People had varied communication needs and abilities. Two people were able to hold conversations, some people were able to express themselves verbally using one or two words; others used body language to communicate their needs. People required differing levels of support from staff based on their individual needs. All people needed emotional support and help to access the wider community outside of the home in which they lived.

This was an unannounced inspection which took place on 23 August 2016.

During our inspection the registered manager was present. 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.

Everyone spoke very highly of the registered manager. Staff were highly motivated and told us that management at the home was very good. The registered manager was aware of the attitudes, values and behaviours of staff. She took responsibility for maintaining her own knowledge and shared this with staff at the home. The provider’s values were embedded at the home and known by all.

A range of quality assurance audits were completed by the registered manager and representatives of the provider that helped ensure quality standards were maintained and legislation complied with. Quality assurance processes included obtaining and acting on the views of people in order that their views could be used to drive improvements at the home.

People were routinely involved in the review of their care packages, making decisions about the service provided and supported to express their views. A range of aids were used which helped ensure everyone, regardless of their abilities were routinely involved. These included pictorial aids, the use of I-Pads, Skype and communication books.

Medicines were managed safely and staff training in this area included observations of their practice to ensure medicines were given appropriately and with consideration for the person concerned. People were supported to be as independent as possible with their medicines.

People appeared very happy and at ease in the presence of staff. Staff were aware of their responsibilities in relation to protecting people from harm and abuse.

People were supported to take control of their lives in a safe way. Risks were identified and managed that supported this. Systems were in place for continually reviewing incidents and accidents that happened within the home in order that actions were taken to reduce, where possible reoccurrence. Checks on the environment and equipment had been completed to ensure it was safe for people to use. The home had suitable equipment to meet people’s needs and promote their independence.

Staff were available for people when they needed support in the home and in the community. Staff told us that they had enough time to support people in a safe and timely way. Staff recruitment records contained information that demonstrated that the provider took the necessary steps to ensure they employed people who were suitable to work at the home. Staff were sufficiently skilled and experienced to care and support people to have a good quality of life. Training was provided during induction and then on an on-going basis.

Ormesby House was meeting the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). These safeguards protect the rights of people by ensuring if there are any restrictions to their freedom and liberty these have been authorised by the local authority as being required to protect the person from harm.

People's n

We observed that people using this service were interacting positively with staff in a range of activities and there was a high level of engagement between staff and people using this service. We observed people were offered appropriate assistance to enable them to access their chosen activities. We observed that staff demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the people they were supporting. One person using the service told us they "liked living at the home".

We spoke with two people who use the service and four relatives of people using the service. One relative told us they were "extremely happy with the service, the staff were friendly and dedicated". Another relative told us that "when issues cropped up, the staff sorted it out and they were happy with the service".

We looked at care records of four people who use the service and saw evidence that risk assessments and care plans were regularly reviewed, that people were involved in the decisions about their care and people were treated with dignity and respect.

We saw the provider had robust systems to regularly monitor the quality, safety of care and support provided at the service and the records of their findings were detailed and comprehensive. We found that if the provider identified areas for improvement, an action plan was implemented with a timescale for completion.

People were observed to be offered appropriate assistance to enable them to access their chosen activities. The staff demonstrated knowledge and understanding with the people they were supporting.

We looked at care records of people who used the service and saw evidence that the care needs had been assessed and regularly reviewed.

People's values and human rights have been respected.

We saw a exceptionally high level of engagement between people who used the service and staff.

We saw that the provider minimised risk of abuse all policies and procedures to promote safeguarding were in place.

The provider had robust systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of care and support provided at the service. One relative said that they "certainly have no worries" with respect to the wellbeing of their family member. They continued to state that the service is keep them in contact at all time regarding the health of their family member. Another relative stated that they "always feel listened to and that their family member "enjoys living at Ormesby House". They also said if they raised any issues with the these were acted upon.

We saw that the provider carried out regular visits at the home to monitor the quality of service that people received. We found these to be detailed and comprehensive. We found that where areas for improvement had been identified an action plan had been implemented and a time scale for completion had been recorded.

Three people who use the service were able to tell us their views of the service and they all spoke very positively about living there.

One person told us they liked living in the home, said that the staff were all friendly and they felt “looked after”. Two people told us they can choose what to do and they are supported to do as many things as possible for themselves.

A number of people who use the service were not able to tell us their views of the service, but we saw that they were very relaxed and comfortable in the company of staff.