About the service: St Anne’s Huddersfield Mental Health Services (29 Cambridge Road) is a residential care home providing care for up to 10 people. At the time of our inspection there were 10 people living in the home.

People’s experience of using this service: People were supported by staff to manage the administration of their own medicines. Staff assisted people safely where they were not able to do this independently. We identified some training which had recently expired. The registered manager was taking steps to address this.

People felt safe living at this service and were supported by staff who knew how to identify abuse.

A range of risk assessments were used to lower risks to people both in the home and in the community. Fire safety management and certificates relating to the building were up-to-date.

There were sufficient numbers of staff to meet people’s needs and this was monitored on a daily basis to manage people in crisis. Safe recruitment practices were followed to ensure suitable staff were employed to work with vulnerable people.

People were encouraged to maintain a balanced diet and given advice on how to do this. People prepared their own meals and booked their own medical appointments which promoted their independent living skills.

People were positive about the support workers who assisted them. People were supported to access the community independently and with staff.

People’s privacy and dignity was respected and strong evidence was seen in upholding equality, diversity and human rights.

Support workers felt very well supported through formal supervision, appraisal and team meetings.

Care plans followed national guidance and showed people were assisted to develop their independent living skills. People were fully involved with their care plans and these included information on end of life wishes.

People knew how to make a complaint if they were dissatisfied. Feedback had been received through satisfaction surveys from people, staff and professionals.

Audits of care plans and medication were completed which helped to ensure oversight of these areas.

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.

Rating at last inspection: Good overall based on findings (May 2016).

Why we inspected: This was a scheduled inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we are scheduled to return. We inspect according to a schedule based on the current rating, however may inspect sooner if we receive information of concern.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

This inspection took place on 19 May 2016 and was unannounced. St Anne’s Huddersfield Mental Health Services is a registered unit that provides accommodation and support to people aged 18 and over who experience mental health problems. The unit can accommodate ten people and nine people were using the service on the day we carried out our inspection. The service was last inspected in February 2014 and at that time the service was compliant with the outcomes we inspected.

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.

People who used the service told us they felt safe at St Anne’s Huddersfield Mental Health Services. Staff had a good understanding of safeguarding adults from abuse and who to contact if they suspected any abuse. Risk assessments were individual to people’s needs and minimised risk whilst promoting people’s independence.

Medicines were managed in a safe way for people and self-management of medicines was promoted by the service.

There were enough staff to provide a good level of interaction and the provider had safe recruitment and selection procedures in place.

Staff had received an induction, supervision, appraisal and specialist training to enable them to provide support to the people who used the service. This ensured they had the knowledge and skills to support the people who lived there.

People’s consent to care and treatment was always sought in line with legislation and guidance.

Meals were planned on an individual basis and people were supported to eat a balanced diet. A range of healthcare professionals were involved in people’s care.

Staff were caring and supported people in a way that maintained their dignity, privacy and human rights. People were supported to be as independent as possible throughout their daily lives.

People were able to make choices about their support and engaged in activities which were person centred.

The service was led by each individual's goals and aspirations. Individual needs were assessed and met through the development of detailed personalised care plans and risk assessments using a ‘recovery star’ model. People's needs were reviewed as soon as their situation changed.

People told us they knew how to complain and told us staff were always approachable. Comments and complaints people made were responded to appropriately.

People told us they were very happy with the service and feedback from everyone was that the service was well led.

The culture of the organisation was open and transparent. The manager was visible in the service and knew the needs of the people who used the service.

People who used the service, their representatives, and staff were asked for their views about the service and they were acted on.

The registered provider had an overview of the service. They audited and monitored the service to ensure people’s needs were met and the service provided was to a high standard.

We spoke with four people who used the service, three staff and the manager. People living at the home told us they felt supported by staff. During our inspection of the home we saw they were making decisions about their day-to-day life. This gave us assurances that staff knew the needs of people and knew how to deliver the care and support effectively.

Our observations of the service showed that care staff spoke with and interacted with people who used the service in a friendly, patient and pleasant manner.

We looked at people’s support plans and saw they ensured the well-being and independence of the people who used the service. Report writing in the care records reflected the changes in care and treatment that people received. We saw incidents were reported, investigated and changes were put in place to minimise the risk of the incident re-occurring in the future.

We found that staff were supported and monitored in their working practice. We saw evidence that training and appraisals programmes were in place.

The people appeared to be relaxed with the staff in their interactions with them. We noted that people who used the service had access to a wide range of activities, which were personalised to their individual needs and documented clearly in the support plans.

We saw that the service was monitored through monthly audits and annual satisfaction questionnaire.

One person who used the service told us “it’s the best place I’ve been.’