The Beeches is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as 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 home accommodates four people in an adapted ordinary family style residential property. The care service has 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 using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

A registered manager was in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’ Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The registered manager was in the process of leaving the service. A new manager had been appointed and had been working in the service as the deputy manager to ensure consistent management of the service was maintained.

Procedures were in place to protect people from harm and staff knew how to use them to keep people safe. Recruitment procedures were robust. Risk management plans were in place to support people and their safety. There were also processes in place to manage any risks in relation to the running of the service. Medicines were safely managed in line with current guidance to ensure people received their prescribed medicines to meet their needs.

There were enough staff to keep people safe. Staff felt well inducted and trained and used their training effectively. People were helped 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’s needs were assessed and they had support to access healthcare professionals and services. People were encouraged to eat well and choose healthier food options to maintain their health and well-being.

Staff were caring and respected people’s privacy, dignity and independence. People were supported in a person centred way. Care plans were detailed and people and those who mattered to them were included in developing these. Relatives felt able to be express any concerns, that that they would be listened to and actions would be taken.

The service was well led; relatives and staff knew the registered manager and found them to be approachable and available in the home. People and their relatives had the opportunity to say how they felt about the home and the service it provided. The provider and registered manager had systems in place to check on the quality and safety of the service provided and to put actions plans in place where needed.

This inspection took place on 27 October 2015.

The Beeches provides accommodation for up to four people who have a learning disability. There were four people living in the service on the day of our inspection, but only two were at home.

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.

Staff had the necessary skills and knowledge to meet people’s assessed needs safely. Staff were well trained and supported. There were sufficient staff who had been recruited safely to ensure that they were fit to work with people.

People showed us that they felt safe and comfortable living at The Beeches. Staff had a good understanding of how to protect people from the risk of harm. They had been trained and had access to guidance and information to support them in maintaining good practice.

Risks to people’s health and safety had been assessed and the service had support plans and risk assessments in place to ensure people were cared for safely. People received their medication as prescribed and there were safe systems in place for receiving, administering and disposing of medicines.

The manager and staff had an understanding of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) but had not had the need to make any applications. DoLS are a code of practice to supplement the main Mental Capacity Act 2005. These safeguards protect the rights of adults by ensuring that if there are restrictions on their freedom and liberty these are assessed by appropriately trained professionals.

People were supported to have sufficient amounts of food and drink to meet their needs. People’s care needs had been assessed and catered for. The support plans provided staff with good information about how to meet people’s individual needs, understand their preferences and how to care for them safely. The service monitored people’s healthcare needs and sought advice and guidance from healthcare professionals when needed.

Staff were kind and caring and treated people respectfully. People participated in a range of activities that met their needs. Families were made to feel welcome and people were able to receive their visitors at a time of their choosing. Staff ensured that people’s privacy and dignity was maintained at all times.

There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service and to deal with any complaints or concerns.

We found that staff had been well trained and saw that they had a good understanding of people's individual needs. People were treated respectfully, their individuality and diversity understood. People enjoyed good levels of activity and were able to get out and about in the local community.

Relatives of people that used the service told us that they had no concerns about how people were treated and that they were very happy with the level of care and activity provided. One person told us, "I am very happy, the staff are wonderful and really care. There is nothing I dislike about The Beeches."

We found that the provider consulted with people and families and also monitored the service to ensure that standards would be maintained.

Some of the people using the service, at the time of our visit had limited verbal communication skills, so were not able to provide us with information on whether they were involved in the running of the home or how they wanted their care provided. However we saw that people looked comfortable within their own surroundings and their interaction with the staff was open and friendly. People we did speak with were happy with the care they received at The Beeches.

Each person had an individual personalised care plan, which identified their care needs and choices. People told us the carers provided any care they needed. Staff were observed speaking with people with dignity and respect and involving them in their care. People appeared relaxed with staff and staff were viewed helping them to make choices on how they wanted their care provided. During our visit at no time were people seen waiting for staff to support them.