We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and to pilot a new inspection process being introduced by the Care quality Commission (CQC) which looks at the overall quality of the service.

This was an announced inspection. During the visit, we spoke with the parents of eight different children, five care staff and the registered manager.

In October 2013, our inspection found that the service was compliant with the regulations we inspected against.

Shooting Star House Hospice provides in house care for up to eight children, day care and home care. This is for children and young people up to the age of twenty-one with life limiting conditions and support for their families is also provided.

The home had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC to manage the service and has the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law; as does the provider.

People told us they were extremely happy with the service they received, way it was delivered and the staff who delivered it. They said it was responsive to their changing needs and well-led. During our inspection visit we saw that staff were appropriately skilled, understood the needs of children and young people using the service and delivered care and support in a professional, compassionate and supportive way. This was delivered in a safe environment. Staff had received thorough induction and on going training and understood and embraced the values and philosophy of the hospice.

The sample of records we looked at, including five care plans were well kept, fully completed and regularly reviewed. The staff at all levels of seniority were well trained, knowledgeable, professional and accessible to children using the service, their relatives and staff in the field.

The registered manager and organisation encouraged feedback from children and their families and consistently monitored and assessed the quality of the service provided.

We spoke with the relatives of five children who had received a service at Shooting Star House. Relatives told us that they were asked for their consent at all stages of the care their children had received. "I've not had to complain, they are amazing staff and wonderful people; they understand exactly how to provide an excellent service".

We spoke with fourteen staff of varied grades and positions including the service manager, practice educators, nursery nurses, play coordinators, nurses, volunteer, catering and maintenance staff, and hospice at home staff. During our inspection we saw that Shooting Star House provided various toys, games, activities, sensory experiences and play therapy for children at the service and their siblings.

One staff member said "We have regular contact with several London hospitals to discuss care, treatment and clinical decisions". Senior staff explained that a meeting had taken place with therapists to discuss how to monitor equipment. People were protected from unsafe or unsuitable equipment because the provider took reasonable steps to maintain, monitor and update staff on the safe use of equipment.

During discussions with clinical governance, the practice educator and senior staff we learned that each staffing grade had core skill competencies. Competencies had been drafted for a variety of nursing roles, care skills and clinical activities.

There were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff to meet people’s needs.

There were four children receiving care at the hospice during our inspection. We spoke to two families and eight members of staff from a variety of roles including two volunteers. We observed the interactions between staff, children and their families and saw children receiving care and support which met their individual needs. Families we spoke to also confirmed there was good support available for parents.

All the families we talked to spoke very highly of the service. One said "I have every confidence in the staff".

The hospice offered a welcoming environment and had a number of different activity areas including music therapy room, hydrotherapy pool, sensory room, relaxation/interview rooms and two communal areas. There was a "chill zone" for young adults who had been involved in the interior design. A spacious garden area was being refurbished.

We spoke to six members of staff from a range of roles who told us about the training and support they received. They said "there were plenty of training opportunities and workshops were held on site". The hospice had an education department and we met the practice education facilitator and clinical educator who provided an overview of the training programme.

Staffing levels at the hospice and the skills and knowledge of staff were suitable and appropriate to meet the children's and young people's needs. We spoke with staff who confirmed they regularly provided one to one care including night shifts.

There were limited numbers of people using the service at the time of the inspection. The people we did speak with were positive about the service.