This inspection took place on 12 July 2018 and was unannounced. This was a first ratings inspection.

Pembridge Road is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. Pembridge Road accommodates up to seven people in one adapted building. At the time of the inspection there were four people living in the care home.

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.

There was a manager in post, they were in the process of registering with us (Care Quality Commission) and were waiting for their interview. 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 were protected from avoidable harm and abuse. Risks were assessed and managed to keep people safe and staff were aware of how to follow risk management plans. Premises and equipment were maintained to minimise the risk of infection. People were supported by sufficient, safely recruited staff. Medicines were administered safely. The manager had systems in place to learn when things went wrong.

People’s needs were assessed and they had effective care plans in place. Staff were given an induction and received on-going training. Competency was checked to ensure they could provide people with effective support.

People received consistent support from staff and were able to choose what they had to eat and drink and were supported safely. The environment was designed and adapted to meet the needs of people. People had support to maintain their health and wellbeing and had access to health professionals. 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 were supported by staff that were kind and caring and had good relationships with people. Peoples communication needs were assessed and care plans were in place. People were supported to make choices and retain their independence. People were treated with dignity and respect.

Peoples preferences were understood by staff, their diverse needs were planned for and they received support to meet them, with regular reviews and updates carried out. People could take part in things which were of interest to them and were supported to set and reach goals. Complaints were investigated and responded to in line with a policy.

People and their relatives were asked for their feedback. Systems were in place to check on the quality of the service people received. The manager used the systems to make improvements. The manager had systems in place to monitor the delivery of people’s care and everyone we spoke with said the manager was approachable.