The inspection took place on 07 July 2017 and was unannounced.

St Michaels House provides respite and enablement facilities in a short stay service for up to 12 adults who have a physical and or learning disability or sensory impairment. It does not provide nursing care. At the time of this inspection there were six people staying at St Michaels House

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.

This was the first inspection since the service was reregistered in April 2016.

People told us they felt safe during their stay at St Michaels House and we observed staff supported people safely. Staff understood how to keep people safe and risks to people's safety and well-being were assessed and mitigated. People's medicines were managed safely by staff who had received training.

People had their needs met in a timely way and we observed there were sufficient numbers of staff who had the right skills and experience to support people safely. There was a robust recruitment process in place. This helped to ensure that staff who were employed at the service were suitable to work in this type of care setting.

Staff received regular support from their line managers which included attendance at team meetings along with regular one to one supervisions. Staff told us they felt well supported. People's consent was obtained and the service worked in line with Mental Capacity Act (MCA) principles. People were supported to eat and drink sufficient amounts to maintain their health and wellbeing. People were supported to access a range of health care professional and services when required.

People gave very positive feedback about the staff and management at the service, along with the facilities and ethos of the service. We observed staff to be kind and caring.

Staff were knowledgeable about people’s individual requirements in relation to their care and support needs and expectations. People had been involved in the planning of their care.

People were encouraged and supported to participate in activities which they had an interest in and were invited to join in events and celebrations which were organised throughout the year. There was a cheerful ambience around the communal areas of the service, including the outside areas.

There were arrangements in place to receive feedback from people who used the service. People were able to raise any concerns they had and were confident they would be listened to and any concerns raised would be addressed.

There were systems and processes in place to monitor the quality of the care and support provided for people who used the service. There was an open and inclusive ethos and people were central to everything the service offered.