This unannounced inspection took place on 13 October 2016. This residential care home is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to three people. At the time of our inspection there were three people with a learning disability at the home. Tablehurst farm cottage is situated on a working farm and people who live in the cottage are also fully involved in the day to day operations on the farm.

There was a registered manager in post. 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 felt safe in the home. Staff understood the need to protect people from harm and knew what action they should take if they had any concerns. Staffing levels ensured that people received the support they required to keep them safe and recruitment procedures protected people from receiving unsafe care from care staff unsuited to the job. People had risk assessments in place which identified and managed people’s known risks. There were appropriate procedures in place to administer medicines.

People received care from staff that were supported to carry out their roles to meet the assessed needs of people living at the home. Staff received training in areas that enabled them to understand and meet the care needs of each person.

People were actively involved in decisions about their care and support needs. There were formal systems in place to assess people’s capacity for decision making under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). People had their healthcare needs managed in a way that was appropriate for each person and people’s nutritional needs were supported and managed with each person.

People received support from staff that treated them well and prioritised their needs. People were relaxed and comfortable around staff and staff understood the need to respect people’s confidentiality. People were supported to maintain good relationships with people that were important to them.

Care plans were written in a person centred manner and focussed on empowering people. People were encouraged to make their own personal choices and to be in control of their own lives. Care plans detailed how people wished to be supported and people were fully involved in making decisions about their care. People participated in a range of activities and received the support they needed to help them do this. People were able to choose where they spent their time and what they did.

People at the home spoke positively about the management team and the culture within the home focussed upon supporting people to be independent. Systems were in place for the home to receive and act on feedback.

During this inspection we observed care practices, looked at records and spoke with the provider and two staff. We met with all of the people who used the service.

Our inspection team was made up of one adult social care inspector and the inspection was carried out over five hours. We answered our five questions; Is the service caring? Is the service responsive? Is the service safe? Is the service effective? Is the service well led? Below is a summary of what we found. If you want to see the evidence supporting our summary please read the full report.

Is the service safe?

There were up to date policies and procedures in place for the safeguarding of vulnerable adults. Staff were aware of their safeguarding responsibilities and had received appropriate training.

There were detailed risk assessments in place for home and farm based activities which meant that people could participate in meaningful tasks in a safe and supported manner.

There were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff to meet people’s needs. The staff we spoke with were knowledgeable about the people they supported and had previous experience in working with people who had a learning disability. The rota showed that there was always a member of staff on duty to support people if needed.

CQC monitors the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards which applies to care homes. While no applications have needed to be submitted, proper policies and procedures were in place. Relevant staff understood when an application should be made, and how to submit one.

Is the service effective?

People told us that they were happy living at Tablehurst Farm Cottage. It was clear from what we saw and from speaking with staff that they understood people’s care and support needs and that they knew them well. Staff had received training to meet the needs of the people living at the home.

Is the service caring?

We observed that people appeared relaxed and happy on the farm and familiar with the staff that supported them. People were actively involved in farming tasks and treated as members of the team. We found that people were able to participate in farm tasks of their choosing and were supported to develop new skills. People expressed their views and were involved in making decisions about their care and treatment. There were regular house meetings where people were asked how they were getting on and if the had any ideas or suggestions.

Is the service responsive?

People’s needs were continually assessed. Records showed that people’s preferences, goals and diverse needs had been identified and support had been provided accordingly. Where changes in people's needs had been identified the service took action to make sure appropriate support was offered.

Is the service well-led?

There were quality assurance processes in place to maintain standards in the service. We saw that staff and people who used the service were given opportunities to express their views. The provider monitored the quality of the service and took action to make improvements where needed.

We met all three people who lived at the home and spoke with two members of staff. The temporary manager was unavailable on the day of our visit. People told us that they liked living at the home. One person said they were "Happy" and "We all get on". A member of staff said "It is like a big family".

People were actively involved in the daily activities of the farm. They helped out with meaningful jobs and were able to do the tasks they enjoyed. People were treated with dignity and respect by the staff that supported them.

We found that people received care and support that met their needs. Care plans were up to date and contained the information staff needed to fully support people. Staff had a good awareness and understanding of each person and promoted their independence.

Staff were supported in their roles through training and regular team meetings. There were opportunities for staff to discuss any issues or concerns. The staff we spoke with said that they liked working there and had the support they needed. One staff member said "I really enjoy working here".

We used a number of different methods to help us understand the experiences of people who used the service because people's complex needs meant they were not fully able to tell us about their experiences. One person said that they "Like it here" and another told us they were "Happy". Feedback forms received from relatives in September 2012 had comments such as "Impressed with the variety of activities" and that it was "A very warm, friendly household".

Tablehurst Cottage was located on a working farm and the people who lived there were actively involved in the day to day running of farm activities. We found that people were treated with respect and were supported in being members of the farm team. Because there were live-in staff at the Cottage there was what one staff member described as a "Family feel" to the way it operated.

We found that people were given the support they needed to enjoy fulfilling lives which promoted their independence.

Staff were knowledgeable about the needs of people who lived at the home. They told us that it was a "Nice set up" and they "Get to know people quite well". However, we found that staff did not get the training they needed to fully support them in their roles.

There were quality assurance systems in place to make sure that people's views and opinions were taken into account. The provider was aware of potential risks to people and had plans in place to manage them safely.