We conducted an announced inspection at The Orchard Care Home on 14 December 2018. The Orchard Care Home provides accommodation and support, without nursing, to a maximum of six people with a learning disability and/or autism. On the day of our inspection six people were using the service. 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.

A registered manager was present during the inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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 our last inspection on 1 December 2015 we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

People were supported by staff who understood the risks people could face and knew how to keep them safe. People were supported to minimise risk and promote their safety.

People were provided with their care and support when this was needed because there were enough staff to do so. People received the support they required to take their medicines at the time they needed these, although some improvements were needed in the records that were used for this. People were being protected from infection because safe practices were being followed.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and staff practices in the service supported this practice.

People were provided good nutritional support. Staff understood people’s healthcare needs and provided support to people in maintaining people’s health.

People were cared for and supported by staff who respected them and maintained their privacy and dignity. Where possible people were involved in planning their own care.

People received care that met their needs and they had activities they found meaningful. People were told in a way they understood how they could raise any complaints or concerns

People used a service that was responsive to their needs and views. They had confidence in the registered manager who was respected and supported by staff. There were some improvements needed to systems used to monitor the quality of the service and make improvements when needed.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

We inspected the service on 1 December 2015. The inspection was announced. The Orchard Care Home provides accommodation and support, without nursing, to a maximum of six people with a learning disability and/or autism. On the day of our inspection six people were using the service.

The service had a registered manager in place at the time of our inspection. 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 supported by staff knew how to recognise abuse and how to respond to concerns. Risks in relation to people’s daily life were assessed and planned for to protect them from harm.

People were supported by enough staff to ensure they received care and support when they needed it. Medicines were managed safely and people received their medicines as prescribed.

People were supported by staff who had the knowledge and skills to provide safe and appropriate care and support. People were supported to make decisions and staff knew how to act if people did not have the capacity to make decisions.

People were supported to maintain their nutrition and staff were monitoring and responding to people’s health conditions.

People lived in a service where they were treated as individuals and where staff knew them well and cared for them in a way they preferred. People had their privacy and dignity respected.

Staff placed people at the heart of the service and ensured they were the driving force in deciding what worked well in relation to their care and support. People lived a fulfilling life which was enriched by the support given to develop their skills and independence which led to them having more autonomy. People enjoyed a rich and active social life.

People were involved in giving their views on how the service was run and there were systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided.

On the day of inspection six people were in residence at the home. During the course of the inspection we spoke with five of them. One person told us: "I'm very happy here". Another person said: "It's really nice here; I'm very happy; I like living here." One member of staff said: "It's lovely here; so homely; it doesn't feel like being at work."

People told us about what they did during the day and showed us activities that they were involved in. We saw that support plans and risk assessments were informative and up to date. Staff were aware of their contents, which enabled them to deliver appropriate and safe care.

The provider had systems in place that ensured the safe receipt, storage, administration and recording of medicines. Staff recruitment, induction and training systems were robust. The accommodation was appropriately designed, homely and suitable to meet the needs of the people living there.

We spoke with people using the services but their feedback did not relate to this standard. We gathered evidence of people's experiences by observing their interactions with staff and others using the service.

We saw people were encouraged to make choices for themselves. Staff encouraged people to engage in household activities to promote their independence and develop their skills. Different resources were available to support people's communication needs.

Staff spoke with people respectfully, they were patient and encouraging with people and they listened carefully to their responses and acted on what they said or explained why they couldn't.

We saw that a person using the service had meetings with an advocate to help them to make choices and decisions.

We were told, "I like living here." People also told us they enjoyed their spare time listening to their music in their room.