Sundial House is a care home providing accommodation, personal care and support for up to seven adults who have a learning disability, some of whom may also have sensory impairment, dementia or mental health conditions. There were seven people living at the home at the time of our inspection.

There was a registered manager in place. 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 last inspection on 23 October 2014, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good:

People were safe because staff understood any risks involved in their care and took action to minimise these risks. The rota was planned to ensure there were sufficient staff to keep people safe and meet their needs. Staff understood their roles in keeping people safe and protecting them from abuse. The provider carried out appropriate pre-employment checks before staff started work.

Medicines were managed safely. Accidents and incidents were recorded and reviewed to ensure any measures that could prevent a recurrence had been implemented. Staff maintained appropriate standards of fire safety. The provider had developed plans to ensure that people’s care would not be interrupted in the event of an emergency. People were protected against the risk of infection because the home was clean and hygienic.

People’s care was provided by regular staff who knew their needs well and provided support in a consistent way. Staff had access to the induction, training and support they needed to do their jobs. 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.

People were supported to eat food they enjoyed and were encouraged to maintain a healthy diet. Staff were aware of any dietary restrictions involved in people’s care. People’s healthcare needs were monitored and they were supported to obtain treatment if they needed it. People who had ongoing conditions were supported to see specialist healthcare professionals regularly.

People enjoyed living at the home and had developed positive relationships with staff and their housemates. Staff treated people with respect and maintained their privacy and dignity. People were supported to maintain relationships with their friends and families and were able to invite guests whenever they wished. People were encouraged to be independent and were supported by staff to learn and develop new skills.

People were encouraged to give their views about the service they received and the provider responded positively to feedback. People had access to activities they enjoyed and had opportunities to enjoy an active social life. People were involved in their local community

The registered manager provided good leadership for the service. They were experienced in their role and communicated well with people, relatives and staff. Staff felt valued and had access to support and advice from the registered manager if they needed it. Staff shared important information about people’s needs effectively. Team meetings were used to ensure staff were providing consistent care that reflected best practice.

The provider’s quality monitoring checks ensured people received safe and effective care and support. Staff worked co-operatively with other professionals to ensure people received the care and treatment they needed. Records were well organised and up to date.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

Sundial House is a care home providing accommodation, personal care and support for up to seven adults who have a learning disability, some of whom may also have sensory impairment, dementia or mental health conditions. There were seven people living at the home at the time of our inspection.

There was a registered manager in place. 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 last inspection on 23 October 2014, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good:

People were safe because staff understood any risks involved in their care and took action to minimise these risks. The rota was planned to ensure there were sufficient staff to keep people safe and meet their needs. Staff understood their roles in keeping people safe and protecting them from abuse. The provider carried out appropriate pre-employment checks before staff started work.

Medicines were managed safely. Accidents and incidents were recorded and reviewed to ensure any measures that could prevent a recurrence had been implemented. Staff maintained appropriate standards of fire safety. The provider had developed plans to ensure that people’s care would not be interrupted in the event of an emergency. People were protected against the risk of infection because the home was clean and hygienic.

People’s care was provided by regular staff who knew their needs well and provided support in a consistent way. Staff had access to the induction, training and support they needed to do their jobs. 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.

People were supported to eat food they enjoyed and were encouraged to maintain a healthy diet. Staff were aware of any dietary restrictions involved in people’s care. People’s healthcare needs were monitored and they were supported to obtain treatment if they needed it. People who had ongoing conditions were supported to see specialist healthcare professionals regularly.

People enjoyed living at the home and had developed positive relationships with staff and their housemates. Staff treated people with respect and maintained their privacy and dignity. People were supported to maintain relationships with their friends and families and were able to invite guests whenever they wished. People were encouraged to be independent and were supported by staff to learn and develop new skills.

People were encouraged to give their views about the service they received and the provider responded positively to feedback. People had access to activities they enjoyed and had opportunities to enjoy an active social life. People were involved in their local community

The registered manager provided good leadership for the service. They were experienced in their role and communicated well with people, relatives and staff. Staff felt valued and had access to support and advice from the registered manager if they needed it. Staff shared important information about people’s needs effectively. Team meetings were used to ensure staff were providing consistent care that reflected best practice.

The provider’s quality monitoring checks ensured people received safe and effective care and support. Staff worked co-operatively with other professionals to ensure people received the care and treatment they needed. Records were well organised and up to date.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

During the inspection we spoke with three residents, three members of staff and the registered manager. A relative of a resident contacted us after the inspection to give us their views.

Residents told us that they were happy at the home and that staff provided good support. They said that they could choose how they spent their time and take part in activities that they enjoyed. One resident told us, “The staff are good. They help me if I need it” and another said, “Everyone here is nice. We all get on well.”

The relative we spoke with told us that their family member received good care and that the home kept them up to date about any events affecting their family member. The relative said of their family member, “He’s well looked after. It’s a homely environment and the staff know him well.”

We found that residents were encouraged to develop skills, to be part of their local community and to enjoy active social lives.

We found that the provider had appropriate arrangements for the safe management of medicines.

Staff told us that they had access to the training and support they needed to do their jobs. They said that they had opportunities to achieve further qualifications and to discuss their professional development.

We found that the provider had developed an effective system to monitor the quality of service that people received which included seeking the views of residents, relatives and staff.

People who use the service told us that they liked living at the home and that they felt safe there. They said that staff were available when they needed them and that they provided good support. People told us that they could choose how they spent their time and that they enjoyed the activities they took part in. They also said that staff helped them arrange an appointment with a doctor if they felt unwell and accompanied them to appointments.

Relatives and advocates of people who live at the home provided positive feedback about the service. One relative said, “The level of support he gets is very good. They understand him well. I'm very pleased with what they offer him. They’ve been incredibly supportive. His physical and emotional needs are met.“

Another relative told us, “It’s a very, very good place for him. I have a good relationship with the staff. They keep me up to date with what’s going on. They keep on top of everything to do with his health and medical appointments and they push things forward when they need to. I’m very happy with the way things are going for him. He’s very contented. He enjoys his classes. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”