This inspection took place on 25 October 2016 and was unannounced. The Laurels provides accommodation for eight people who require support with their personal care.

There were seven people were living in the home at the time of our inspection. People’s bedrooms, bathrooms, lounges and dining rooms were set over the ground floor of The Laurels.

People had access to quiet areas to sit and relax as well as a secured court yard and garden area.

A registered manager was in place as required by their conditions of registration. 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 cared for by staff who were passionate about improving people’s quality of life. People and their relatives overwhelmingly praised the staff for their kindness and support. The registered manager had sought and had positively acted on people’s views and personal wishes to improve their life at The Laurels.

People’s rights were protected. They were supported to make decisions about their care and support. The level of support provided was varied and tailored to people’s needs. People’s care records provided staff with detailed information about their support needs, personal histories and social interests. Their individual risks had been identified and assessed. Whilst staff supported people to minimise their risks, there was not always clear recorded guidance for staff to follow. We have made a recommendation about the recording of the management of people’s risks.

People were supported by staff who were kind and compassionate and knew people well. They supported people to attend health care appointments as required. The management and administration of their medicines was based on people’s individual support needs. Staff understood their responsibility to safeguard people and report any concerns. People enjoyed the meals provided. They were being consulted about their likes and dislikes

People’s daily concerns were listened to and acted on. The registered manager had not received any complaints since being in post. They were clear about the actions they would take if a complaint or allegation of abuse was made. There was sufficient staff to meet people’s needs. Additional staff were provided if people needed extra support such as attending appointments or events in the community.

People benefited from staff who had been trained and supported to carry out their role. Plans were in place to monitor, observe and update the training of staff. A clear recruitment process was in place to ensure people were supported by staff of good character. However conversations about any discrepancies in their employment histories were not always recorded.

The home was well-led. The registered manager had a good understanding of their role and how to manage the quality of the care provided to people. Quality monitoring systems were developed to check and address any shortfalls in the service. Where concerns had been raised by people and their relatives these had been addressed immediately. There were sufficient numbers of staff to ensure people’s needs were being met.