We carried out our inspection visit on 8 September June 2016. The inspection was unannounced.

The service provided accommodation and personal care to 41 older people. At the time of our inspection there were 38 people using the service, some of who had a diagnosis of early dementia. The registered manager told us that people from the local community or a neighbouring residential service chose to spend short periods of respite at the service.

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 protected from avoidable harm because staff had the training and skills to respond to any concerns they had about people’s safety and welfare. The provider had effective systems in place to assess and manage these risks associated with people’s care. The registered manager assessed people’s needs and used this to deploy sufficient numbers of staff to meet people’s needs. Staff managed people’s medicines safely and administered them in accordance with people’s prescriptions.

The premises and environment were well maintained, spacious and kept in a safe condition. There were plans in place to support each person in the event of an emergency.

Staff had access to a range of training which equipped them with the relevant skills they required to meet people’s needs. The provider completed relevant checks which ensured that staff had the right skills, experience and knew how to support people safely.

People were supported in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005. Staff sought their consent to their care and treatment. People were supported promptly with their health needs.

People’s nutritional needs were met. They had access to a variety of healthy meals that they told us they enjoyed. The provider ensured people were prompted to have enough to drink to minimise the risk of dehydration and associated conditions.

Staff were kind and compassionate to people. They were knowledgeable about the needs of the people they supported and treated them with dignity and respect. They provided the support that people needed to be involved in decisions about their care.

Care was centred on people’s individual needs. Their care plans reflected the support that they received. Staff provided people with opportunities to access a variety of social activities and support to follow their faith.

People had opportunities to give their feedback on the service they received. The provider listened to feedback from people using the service and their relatives and acted on them.

The provider had effective procedures for monitoring and assessing the service in a way that promoted continuous improvement. People and their relatives were satisfied with the service they received. Staff felt supported in their role which enabled them to deliver a good standard of care.

We sampled three people's care records and looked at their individual care plan. We found individual care plans were detailed and showed the support they needed and wished to have, and which the service had agreed to provide. We spoke with four people who used services. All the outcomes areas we inspected were compliant. We saw the service was clean, fresh and tidy and well maintained. We saw the outdoor garden were attractive with established trees and shrubs, and people could safely access the garden area and pathways. We saw people sit outside on the wooden decking in the warmer weather. One person told us their younger family members had visited at the weekend and they had enjoyed sitting together outside. We moved around the premises and saw people reading newspapers in the foyer. We spoke with the activity coordinator and she confirmed an afternoon crossword session in the afternoon with people who use services. We saw a monthly activity programme displayed on the bullentin board and copies available in people's bedrooms.

We spoke with three people and two visiting relatives. People who used services told us they were well looked after and liked the staff. One person told us they enjoyed playing crosswords with the activity coordinator. Another person told us,"When it was my birthday, they made me a cake, and made me feel special." One visitor told us, "The home provides consistently high care." Another visitor told us the home's manager had undertaken an assessment of need of their relative at the hospital (before coming into the home). They had been provided with written information about The Lawns and were not been put under pressure to accept a place. Now with their relative at the home they reported staff provided great care and took an interest in their relative.

We saw staff were not rushed and worked at people who use services pace and routine. For example we saw some people had a breakfast tray taken to their bedrooms and other people got up for breakfast in the dining area. Some people come into their communal areas and others stayed in their bedrooms. People who used services benefited from sufficient staff to meet their needs. We saw people in the lounge listening to vintage music and singing along. We saw one person go to the local shops to buy items assisted by the activity coordinator. The activity coordinator had arranged to play dominoes with people using the service in the afternoon and provided a range of daily activities to meet people's wishes and preferences.

During our visit we observed people interacting with staff, having a breakfast and lunch and taking part in morning activities. People were happy at the home and felt well cared for and were treated with dignity and respect. We were supported on this review by an expert-by-experience who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. He spoke with seven people living at the home.

Some people were seen reading newspapers, interacting with the visiting dog (pets as therapy scheme) and having their nails manicured. The activity coordinator was seen organising a crossword quiz for the afternoon. We saw people having their hair done by the visiting hairdresser. People told us, “I have a leisurely breakfast in my room every day.” Another person said, “You’d be hard done by, to find any better.”