St Matthew 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.

The care service had 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 who used the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

St Matthew Road provided accommodation and personal care for up to 10 people who had learning disabilities and some associated physical and/or sensory disabilities. Nine people used the service at the time of inspection. Some people had their own flats, which included their own kitchen and bathrooms. There was a kitchen, dining-room and large lounge for people to relax in. People had access to two large gardens and one person had their own smaller garden space. There was also a newly refurbished summer house for relaxing or having parties in.

At our last inspection in December 2016, the service was rated ‘Good’ overall. At this inspection there was a new provider. We found the service remained Good.

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 were kept safe by staff that were knowledgeable of potential risks to their safety. There were robust risk assessments and regular checks of the building to ensure it was safe for people to live in. People received their medicines from trained and competent staff. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs. Staff were recruited safely and people were involved with the recruitment process to ensure the right staff were employed. Accidents and incidents were recorded and monitored and action taken that reduced reoccurrence.

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.

Staff had the skills and knowledge to support people and had attended specific training to meet all people’s needs. Additional support was provided in the form of supervisions and appraisals. Staff spoke positively about their induction into the service and the emphasis on shadowing staff to understand people’s routines and needs. People’s nutritional needs were met and they were given choice and control over what they wanted to eat and drink. People’s health and social wellbeing was promoted through regular input from professionals.

Feedback from people, their relatives and professionals was that staff were kind and genuinely cared for them. People's dignity, independence and privacy was promoted at all times. Staff knew people, their preferences and support needs well. People had their own key-worker, a named member of staff who had a central role in their lives and would oversee their support needs and care plans.

People, their relative’s and health professionals considered staff to be responsive to people's needs. People experienced support to help them manage their anxieties, and this had a positive impact on their lives. People felt their views were listened to by staff. Staff were knowledgeable of people’s individual communication needs and ensured that these were always met in a person-centred way. People were supported to understand death and bereavement, and specialist professional support was sought when people needed it.

People, their relatives, staff and professionals spoke highly of the management team. Audits were completed regularly