We carried out this inspection on 19 April 2017. The inspection was unannounced. This meant no-one at the service knew we were planning to visit.

Cardwell Avenue provides respite care to adults with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorders. It is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to four people. Cardwell Avenue is located in a residential area of Sheffield with good access to transport links and local facilities. There were two people staying at the service at the time of this inspection.

There was a registered manager employed at the service. 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.

The registered manager had a good oversight of the service and was experienced in their role.

Medicines were stored safely and securely, and procedures were in place to ensure people received their medicines as prescribed.

There were enough staff available to ensure people’s needs were met. The registered provider had robust recruitment procedures to make sure staff had the required skills and were of suitable character and background.

Staff understood what it meant to protect people from abuse. They told us they were confident any concerns they raised would be taken seriously by management.

The care records we looked at included risk assessments, which identified any risks, associated with people’s care and had been devised to help minimise and monitor the risks while promoting the person’s independence as far as possible.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were encouraged to make decisions about their meals, and were supported to go shopping and be involved in menu planning.

People were cared for by an enthusiastic and caring staff group. Staff were supported through training, regular supervisions and team meetings to help them carry out their roles effectively. There was an open and accessible management team.

People received personalised care. Care records reflected people’s current needs and preferences.

There was a clear complaints policy and procedure in place. People’s comments and complaints were taken seriously, investigated, and responded to.

The service had up to date policies and procedures which reflected current legislation and good practice guidance.

Staff told us the managers were approachable and responsive to any concerns they had.

There was evidence the registered manager used quality monitoring systems to ensure safe practice and identify any improvements required. However, some aspects of the quality monitoring system had not taken place since January 2017.