This inspection was announced. We gave short notice of the inspection as the care home is small and caters for people with autism who may require time to process a new person visiting their home. The inspection took place on 1 November 2017. We met with people living at the service at their college placement. This was the first inspection completed since the service registered in September 2016.

Preston Road is a small care home registered to provide personal care for up to six people with learning disabilities and autism. At the time of the inspection there were five people living at the service. Young people live at Preston Road as part of their college placement at St John’s, who is the registered provider. Preston Road is one of a number of small care homes the provider has registered for young people to enable them to attend the specialist college and be supported to develop their independent living skills. The provider expected that young people would usually live at the home for up to three years. The service refers to people who live at their residential settings as ‘learners’ so for the purpose of this report we will also refer to them as learners.

The home had 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. Each person had their own room and shared a kitchen, lounges, toilets and bathrooms. .

There was a registered manager who is also the registered manager for several other small care homes run by the same provider. 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.

Learners were afforded choice and an opportunity to develop their independent living skills within a safe and homely environment. Staff were skilled at understanding learner’s individual complex needs and wishes. Information was produced in accessible formats to enable learners to make choices.

Care and support was well planned, with risks being clearly identified with positive support plans being used to reduce learner’s anxieties and behaviours which may place themselves or others at risk. Learners were supported in the least restrictive way; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff had received training on the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). We have made a recommendation in relation to ensuring they adhere to the requirements of the MCA.

There were sufficient staff with the right skills and experience to support learners to live the lives they chose, accessing the local community and enjoying a variety of activities and hobbies.

Learners were supported to maintain good health including enjoying a varied and healthy diet. Hospital passports had been developed in easy-read formats to enable healthcare workers to provide the right support to people if they became ill.

People were kept safe and cared for by staff who were aware of their safeguarding responsibilities. Staff were safely recruited, trained and supervised in their work. They enjoyed their jobs; felt included and listened to in the running of the service. Staff were proud to work at Preston Road and spoke positively about the ethos and culture being open and inclusive.

Medicines were being safely managed although we made a recommendation in respect of storage of medicines. .

Learners, relatives and staff were actively encouraged to give their views and raise concerns or make suggestions, because the service viewed all feedback received as a natural part of driving improvement.

Learners were treated with kindn