We inspected Sands Lodge on the 15 May 2017.

The service provides accommodation and support for up to 18 people with mental health issues. There were 18 people living at the service at the time of our inspection.

At our last inspection the service was rated as Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

The service was safe. Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare. People were cared for safely by staff who had been recruited and employed after appropriate checks had been completed. People’s needs were met by sufficient numbers of staff. Medication was dispensed by staff who had received training to do so.

The service was effective. People were cared for and supported by staff who had received training to support people to meet their needs. The registered manager had a good understanding of their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. People were supported with their nutritional needs and had access to healthcare when required.

The service was caring. Staff cared for people in an empathetic and kind manner. Staff had a good understanding of people’s preferences of care. People’s care was individually planned for their needs.

The service was responsive. People and their relatives were involved in the planning and review of their care. Care plans were reviewed on a regular basis and also when there was a change in care needs. People were supported to follow their interests and participate in social activities. The registered manager responded to complaints received in a timely manner.

The service was well-led. The service had systems in place to monitor and provide good care and these were reviewed on a regular basis.

The Inspection took place on the 22 July 2015.

Sands lodge provides accommodation and personal care without nursing for up to 18 persons who may have mental health needs. At the time of our inspection 15 people were living at the service.

The service had a registered manager. 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.

Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare. People were cared for safely by staff who had been recruited and employed after appropriate checks had been completed. People’s needs were met by sufficient numbers of staff. Medication was dispensed by staff who had received training to do so.

People were safeguarded from the potential of harm and their freedoms protected. Staff were provided with training in Safeguarding Adults from abuse, Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). The manager was up-to-date with recent changes to the law regarding DoLS and knew how to make a referral if required.

People had sufficient amounts to eat and drink to ensure that their dietary and nutrition needs were met. The service worked well with other professionals to ensure that people's health needs were met. People's care records showed that, where appropriate, support and guidance was sought from health care professionals, including a doctor and community mental health nurse.

Staff were attentive to people's needs. Staff were able to demonstrate that they knew people well. Staff treated people with dignity and respect.

People were provided with the opportunity to participate in activities which interested them. These activities were diverse to meet people’s social needs. People knew how to make a complaint and complaints had been resolved efficiently and quickly.

The service had a number of ways of gathering people’s views including using questionnaires and by talking with people, relatives, staff, and other health professionals. The manager carried out a number of quality monitoring audits to help ensure the service was running effectively and to make continual improvements.

We spoke with eight people using the service. Comments included, “It’s nice here.” People told us that staff gave enough support, they had enough to do and they felt able to talk to staff if they had any issues. We asked several people if staff were caring. Comments included, “Staff are very kind and very helpful.” People told us that they felt safe.

We spoke with five staff, which included the manager, care staff, the cleaner and housekeeper. We reviewed three people’s care planning files and three staff personnel files.

We saw that the provider had employed a manager to ensure the service was well led. The provider had a range of effective systems in place to ensure people received the care they needed.

During our visit a person raised an issue with us which we passed to the manager who took responsive action.

People told us that they were happy, well cared for and that they felt safe living at Sands Lodge. People said that staff treated them well and that their needs were met.

We saw that people's needs were assessed and that staff cared for people properly, taking into account individual's preferences for how they wished to be treated and cared for.

Staff we spoke with had a good knowledge of the needs of people living in the home and we saw that staff supported people in an appropriate and sensitive way.

There were arrangements in place to ensure that staff were trained and supported to care for people properly.

The service was reviewed regularly to ensure that people received safe and appropriate care and treatment that met their needs.

Those people with whom we spoke told us that the manager and staff were very kind and caring and enabled them to be as independent as possible. They received the support and care that they wanted and staff always provided explanations to them when required. They told us that they felt they had a good life at Sands Lodge and enjoyed living there. People told us that they had great opportunities to go out and do nice things.

We were told the food was very good and that people were given plenty of choice and opportunities to try new and sometimes unfamiliar food.

Those people with whom we spoke told us that they could speak to the manager and staff about any concerns that they may have and know that they will be given help.

Everybody said that they liked their rooms and the home was clean and comfortable and suitable to meet their needs.