This unannounced inspection took place on 18 September 2018. At the last inspection on 9 December 2015, the service was rated Good overall and Requires improvement in Well led because there had been no registered manager in post for some time.

At this inspection there was a registered manager who had been registered with the Commission since April 2016. 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.

Short Breaks Banstead is a care home that provides respite care and support on the ground floor of an adapted building. People in care homes receive accommodation and personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The service provides respite care for up to six people at any one time. The provider told us there were approximately 40 people who used the service for respite at times throughout the year.

The respite service has 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.” Registering the Right Support CQC policy. The service enables people with complex needs to be supported to live with their families and in the community through a planned respite programme. They also respond to emergency support requests from local authorities where possible.

At this inspection we found some shortfalls in the way some safety checks were completed and flaws in the systems for monitoring the safety of the premises and responding to actions identified from risk assessments. Staff underwent a recruitment checks, however, the provider’s application form did not follow legal requirements in relation to applicants’ job history. Medicines were safely administered and stored but some improvement was needed to an aspect of recording in relation to medicines.

We have made a recommendation in relation to medicines management.

The provider and registered manager acted immediately to address the issues concerned and risks identified. They were open with the Commission about the issues and addressed the gaps in their quality monitoring system that had allowed the problems with recruitment and environmental checks to go unnoticed. Further changes were made to ensure that the improvements needed were acted on and sustained. We will check on this at our next inspection of the service.

There were effective safeguarding procedures in place to protect people from the risk of abuse. Staff understood the different types of abuse and knew to who contact to report their concerns. The registered manager worked proactively with the local authority to ensure people were protected from harm. There were processes in place to learn from accidents and incidents. Individual risks to people were carefully assessed and detailed guidance provided to staff to reduce risk.

There were sufficient numbers of staff at the service. The service was clean and staff understood how to reduce the risk of infections. The environment had been adapted to meet people’s needs.

Staff received sufficient training supervision and support to fulfil their roles and responsibilities. New staff completed an induction when they started work and staff received refresher training and a range of specialist training that helped them support people’s individual needs.

The service was inclusive and prior to joining the service people's needs were carefully assessed in partnership with service users, their families and health and social

This was an unannounced inspection that took place on 9 and 11 December 2015.

Short Breaks Banstead is a residential home which provides respite accommodation and personal care for up to six people, who have a learning disability and have complex needs. At the time of our inspection there were two people living there. The home consists of two floors; all bedrooms are situated on the ground floor with a separate flat which people can use on the first floor. The home has communal areas including a lounge, dining room, and kitchen.

At the time of our visit, Short Breaks Banstead did not have registered manager in post. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. The manager informed us they had begun the application process to become the registered manager.

People were safe at Short Breaks Banstead. Staff had a good understanding about the signs of abuse and were aware of what to do if they suspected abuse was taking place. There were systems and processes in place to protect people from harm.

There was sufficient numbers of staff deployed to meet people’s needs. People were supported by staff that had the necessary skills and knowledge to meet their needs. Recruitment practices were safe and relevant checks had been completed before staff started work. Staff worked within best practice guidelines to ensure people’s care and support promoted well-being and independence.

Medicines were managed safely. Any changes to people’s medicines were prescribed by the person’s GP and administered appropriately.

Staff were up to date with current guidance to support people to make decisions. Information about the home was given to people and consent was obtained prior to any care given. Where people had restrictions placed on them these were done in their best interests using appropriate safeguards. Staff had a clear understanding of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) as well as their responsibilities in respect of this.

People had enough to eat and drink and there were arrangements in place to identify and support people who were nutritionally at risk. People were supported to have access to healthcare services and were involved in the regular monitoring of their health. The home worked effectively with healthcare professionals and was pro-active in referring people for assessment or treatment.

Staff treated people with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect. People’s preferences, likes and dislikes had been taken into consideration and support was provided in accordance with people’s wishes. Relatives and friends were able to visit. People’s privacy and dignity were respected and promoted for example when personal care was undertaken.

People’s needs were assessed when they entered the home and on a continuous basis to reflect changes in their needs. People’s care and welfare was monitored regularly to ensure their needs were met within a safe environment. The provider had systems in place to regularly assess and monitor the quality of the service provided. Management liaised with external agencies to obtain guidance and best practice techniques.

People were encouraged to voice their concerns or complaints about the home and there were different ways for their voices to be heard. Suggestions, concerns and complaints were used as an opportunity to learn and improve the home.

People had access to activities that were important and relevant to them. People were protected from social isolation through systems the home had in place. We found there were a range of activities available within the home and community.