We inspected Ridley Community Project on 10 January 2017. This was an announced inspection. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location was a small care home for adults who are often out during the day and we needed to be sure that someone would be in. At the last inspection on 7 and 14 October 2014 the service was rated as Good.

The Ridley Community Project is a care home providing personal care and support for up to three people with mental health needs. At the time of the inspection three people were using the service.

The experiences of people who lived at the service were positive. People told us they felt safe, staff were kind and the care they received was good. We found staff had a good understanding of their responsibility with regard to safeguarding adults.

People’s needs were assessed and their preferences identified as much as possible across all aspects of their care. Risks were identified and plans in place to monitor and reduce risks. People had access to relevant health professionals when they needed them. Medicines were stored and administered safely.

Staff undertook training and received regular supervision to help support them to provide effective care. Staff we spoke with had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). MCA and DoLS is law protecting people who are unable to make decisions for themselves or whom the state has decided their liberty needs to be deprived in their own best interests. We saw people were able to choose what they ate and drank. People are 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 support this practice. People had access to health care professionals as appropriate.

There were sufficient numbers of suitable staff employed by the service. Staff had been recruited safely with appropriate checks on their backgrounds completed.

People’s needs were met in a personalised manner. We found that care plans were in place which included information about how to meet a person’s individual and assessed needs. The service had a complaints procedure in place.

Staff told us the service had an open and inclusive atmosphere and the registered manager was approachable and open. The service had various quality assurance and monitoring mechanisms in place.

All the people who used the service told us that they liked living at Ridley Community Project. They said they liked their rooms, the staff and the food. A person who used the service told us "I like living here because I am fairly independent and get help when I need it." Another person said "I like living here but I want my own place."

We saw that staff treated people with dignity and respect and involved them in making individual choices. People were encouraged to take an active part in the running of the home and were supported to receive the healthcare that they needed. Records showed that the provider worked in co-operation with other professionals to maintain people's well being.They had good links with health services and the local community mental health services. Relatives were able to visit at any time.

We found that care was provided in accordance with people's wishes and with their consent. Care was delivered according to individual assessed need and appropriate health and social care professionals were involved in people's care. People we spoke with were happy with the food provided to them. One person told us "we always eat fresh food and we go out to do the shopping." We found that people were provided with a safe service and that steps were taken to protect them.

People told us they were treated with dignity and respect, and that they were able to make choices over their daily lives. One person said "I make my own decisions" and "they (staff) treat me well." Another person said "they are always polite and friendly." We saw that staff interacted with people in a respectful and friendly manner during our visit. Care plans were in place for people, and we found that people had access to health care professionals, including GP's, consultant psychiatrists and dentists. We found that there were enough staff to meet people’s needs. People told us they knew how to make a complaint if they wanted to, and the service had a complaints procedure in place.

People told us they were supported with their medication. One person said "they give us our tablets, because I usually forget." We found that medications were stored securely. However, we found some instances of poor record keeping with regard to medication.

People living at the Ridley Community Project were positive about the care and support that they received at the home.

People have only been living at the home since the end of 2010 and were generally positive about the admission procedure that they experienced and told us they had settled in well.

People told us that they had regular meetings with their key worker, which they appreciated. They also told us that they had a say about how the care and support they received was delivered.

People spoken to told us they enjoyed the food at the home and were regularly consulted on any changes they would like to see on the menu.

People also told us they were happy with their bedrooms and the communal facilities within the home. One person told us, “My room is always nice and warm, I like it”.

We inspected Ridley Community Project on 7 and 14 October 2014. This was an unannounced inspection which meant the staff and the provider did not know we would be visiting.  At the last inspection in December 2013 the service was found to be meeting the regulations we looked at.

The Ridley Community Project is a care home providing personal care and support for people with mental health needs. The home is registered for three people.  At the time of the inspection they were providing personal care and support to three people.

There was a registered manager at the service at the time of our inspection.  A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service and has the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law; as does the provider.

We spoke with three people who used the service and they told us they felt safe and were happy with the care and support provided. We found that systems were in place to help ensure people were safe. For example, staff had a good understanding of what constituted abuse and the abuse reporting procedures.  People’s finances were managed and audited regularly by staff.

Staff were familiar with people’s individual needs and knew how to meet them. We saw staff had built up good working relationships with people who lived at Ridley Community Project. There were enough properly trained and well supported staff working at the home to meet people’s needs. 

People told us they felt happy and safe living at Ridley Community Project. They also told us staff were kind and caring, and our observations and discussions with relatives supported this. We saw staff treated people with dignity and respect. 

People or their representatives were involved in developing care plans.  We found that people were supported to access the local community and wider society. This included education opportunities. People using the service pursued their own individual activities and interests, with the support of staff if required. 

There was a clear management structure in the home. People who lived at Ridley Community Project, relatives and staff felt comfortable about sharing their views and talking to the manager if they had any concerns or ideas to improve the service. The registered manager demonstrated a good understanding of their role and responsibilities, and staff told us the manager was always supportive. There were systems in place to routinely monitor the safety and quality of the service provided.