We inspected St Anne’s Community Services – Huddersfield on 21 October 2016. This was an unannounced inspection which meant that the staff and registered provider did not know that we would be visiting.

3 Heaton Road is a registered unit that provides accommodation and support for up to six people aged 18 and over who experience mental health problems. There are six bedrooms, a lounge, dining room and kitchen. Separate bath and shower rooms are situated on each floor. The service operates as a step-down facility that provides support for people to progress into their own accommodation. Therefore people admitted to the home are relatively well and very independent.

The Commission set conditions when registering services and one used for care homes is the number of people who can be accommodated. This condition of registration for St Anne's Community Services – Huddersfield is that registered provider can accommodate a maximum of 20 people. There is only room in the home for six people so we discussed the need to vary this condition with the area manager and they undertook to ensure action was taken to change the conditions to a maximum of six people.

The registered manager and has been in this role since at least 2010. 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.

At the time of the inspection six people lived at the service and we met three of the people who used the service. They told us that they were very happy with the service and found it met their needs. We found that the registered provider and staff consistently ensured people were supported to lead an independent lifestyle.

Staff readily identified triggers that would lead people to become distressed or indicate that their mental health was deteriorating. We found this had a very positive impact on people and led to staff taking prompt action when people became unwell.

We saw that detailed assessments were completed, which identified people’s health and support needs as well as any risks to people. These assessments were used to create plans to reduce the risks identified as well as support plans.

We saw that people cooked their own meals. Staff assisted them to select healthy food and drinks which helped to ensure that their nutritional needs were met. We saw that people were supported to manage their weight.

We saw there were systems and processes in place to protect people from the risk of harm. We found that staff understood and appropriately used safeguarding procedures.

People were supported to maintain good health and had access to healthcare professionals and services. People were encouraged to have regular health checks and, if requested staff accompanied them to their appointments.

Staff were aware of how to respect people’s privacy and dignity. We saw that staff supported people to make choices and decisions.

Staff had received a range of training, which covered mandatory courses such as fire safety, infection control and first aid as well as condition specific training such as working with people who have mental health needs.

Staff had also received training around the application of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Mental Health Act 1983 (amended in 2007). The staff we spoke with understood the requirements of this legislation.

Staff shared with us a range of information about how they as a team worked very closely with people to make sure the service enabled each person to reach their potential.

People and the staff we spoke with told us that there were enough staff on duty. We found that sufficient staff were on duty to meet people’s needs.

Effective recruitment and selection procedures were in place and we saw that appropriate checks

People who used the service told us that they were happy living at St Anne's Community Services. They said that they liked the staff and felt well supported by them. We found that support plans were developed in a way that ensured the well being, independence and safety of people who use the service. Risk assessments were updated on a regular basis and care was planned with the involvement and consent of each individual. One person told us," There's always someone who will listen to what you've got to tell them. We've all go our own rights".

The service was welcoming and friendly. We observed staff treating people with respect and dignity and having fun. People who lived in the service appeared to be relaxed and comfortable with staff. The building was homely, well maintained and comfortable.

Staff we spoke with told us that they enjoyed working there. We found that staff had a real pride in the service provided and looked for different opportunities for people who lived there. We saw that recruitment was carried out in line with policies and procedures, required checks were undertaken and staff received regular training, supervision and annual appraisals.

We saw that medication was stored, administered and reviewed in line with a clear policy and people were supported to administer their own medication.

We found that records were maintained, were clear, signed, covered all of the activities undertaken within the service and stored appropriately.

People who use the service told us that they were happy living in the home. They told us that they liked the staff who worked there and they felt well cared for. We looked at people’s support plans and saw that they were developed in a way that ensured the well being and independence of the people who use the service. We saw that risk assessments were carried out and updated regularly. People were able to tell us who their keyworker was and they confirmed that they had been involved in the development and review of their support plans.

The staff we spoke to told us they enjoyed working there, they enjoyed the variety of the work. They told us that they were supported by the management and received regular training. We saw that supervision took place every four to six weeks and that they had annual appraisals.

The people who used the service told us they felt safe living in the home and were able to tell us what they would do if they had any concerns or complaints about the service. We saw that staff had received safeguarding training and there were policies and procedures in place to support them.

We saw that the service was monitored through monthly audits and annual stakeholder questionnaires.