The inspection was carried out on 23 January 2018, and was an unannounced inspection.

74 Sir Evelyn Road is a residential home providing care and support for up to six people with Learning disabilities. The service is part of a group of homes managed by Voyage 1 Limited. People who lived in the home had autism and communication difficulties. 74 Sir Evelyn Road is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. At the time we inspected, five people lived in the home.

At the last Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection on 05 January 2016, the service was rated Good in Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well Led domains with an overall Good rating.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

There was no registered manager at the service during our inspection. However, there was an acting manager supported by the operations manager at the service. The previous registered manager left her position in January 2018. 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 provider continued to provide good leadership. They checked staff were focussed on people experiencing good quality care and support. People and staff were encouraged to provide feedback about how the service could be improved. This was used to make changes and improvements that people wanted. Records were consistent and robust.

People continued to be safe at 74 Sir Evelyn Road. Staff knew what their responsibilities were in relation to keeping people safe from the risk of abuse. Staff recognised the signs of abuse and what to look out for. There were systems in place to support staff and people to stay safe.

The provider continued to follow safe recruitment practice.

Medicines were managed safely and people received them as prescribed.

Staff encouraged people to actively participate in activities, pursue their interests and to maintain relationships with people that mattered to them.

People received the support they needed to stay healthy and to access healthcare services.

People and staff were encouraged to provide feedback about how the service could be improved. This was used to make changes and improvements that people wanted.

There were enough staff to keep people safe. The acting manager continued to have appropriate arrangements in place to ensure there were always enough staff on shift.

Each person had an up to date, personalised support plan, which set out how their care and support needs should be met by staff. These were reviewed regularly. Staff received regular training and supervision to help them to meet people's needs effectively.

People were supported to eat and drink enough to meet their needs. They also received the support they needed to stay healthy and to access healthcare services.

Staff encouraged people to actively participate in activities, pursue their interests and to maintain relationships with people that mattered to them.

The Care Quality Commission is required by law to monitor the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. The provider and staff understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Staff showed they were caring and they treated people with dignity and respect and ensured people's privacy was maintained, particularly when being supported with their personal care needs.

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

The provider ensur

We inspected this home on 05 January 2016. This was an unannounced inspection.

Sir Evelyn Road provides care and support to adults with learning disabilities, and challenging behaviour. The home is registered for six people. At the time we visited there were five people living at the home. The people who lived at Sir Evelyn Road had diverse and complex needs such as learning disabilities, autism, limited verbal communication abilities and challenging behaviours.

There was a registered manager at the home. 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.

People were protected against the risk of abuse. We observed that people felt safe in the home. Staff recognised the signs of abuse or neglect and what to look out for. Both the registered manager and staff understood their role and responsibilities to report any concerns and were confident in doing so.

The home had risk assessments in place. These identifies and reduces risks that may be involved when meeting people’s needs such as inability to verbally communicate, which could lead to behaviour that challenges and details of how the risks could be reduced. This enabled the staff to take immediate action to minimise or prevent harm to people.

There were sufficient staff, with the correct skill mix, on duty to support people with their needs. Staff attended regular training courses. Staff were supported by their manager and felt able to raise any concerns they had or suggestions to improve the service to people.

Effective recruitment processes were in place and followed by the registered manager Staff had the opportunity to discuss their performance during one to one meetings and annual appraisal so they were supported to carry out their roles.

Medicines were managed safely. The processes in place ensured that the administration and handling of medicines was suitable for the people who used the service. People had good access to health and social care professionals when required.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) monitors the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which applies to care homes. People were supported to make decisions about all aspects of their life; this was underpinned by the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Staff were knowledgeable of this guidance and correct processes were in place to protect people

Staff encouraged people to undertake activities and supported them to become more independent. Staff spent time engaging people in conversations, and spoke to them politely and respectfully.

People’s care plans contained information about their personal preferences and focussed on individual needs. People and those closest to them were involved in regular reviews to ensure the support provided continued to meet their needs.

People were able to make choices about the food and drink they had, and staff gave support when required.

People were involved in assessment and care planning processes. Their support needs, likes and lifestyle preferences had been carefully considered and were reflected within the care and support plans available.

Staff meetings took place on a regular basis. Minutes were taken and any actions required were recorded and acted on. People’s feedback was sought and used to improve the care.

People knew how to make a complaint and complaints were managed in accordance with the provider’s complaints policy.

The registered manager and provider regularly assessed and monitored the quality of care to ensure standards were met and maintained. The registered manager understood the requirements of their registration with the Commission.