The inspection visits took place on 20 and 28 December 2017. The first day was an unannounced visit and the second day was announced to enable us to speak with people living at the service and the registered manager. 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.

The service was transferred in its entirety to the current registered provider in December 2016. The last inspection of the service prior to the transfer was in May 2016 and we rated it as good overall. The current registered manager and support workers were employed at the service at the time of that inspection.

The Royd is a care home registered to accommodate up to 16 adults with complex mental health needs who require assistance with their personal care. At the time of our inspection visit 13 people lived at the service. People in care homes receive accommodation and 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 Royd is divided into two units in adjacent houses within a residential area of Birmingham. One unit provides support for people who are unable to manage their personal care. The second unit provides support for people who are capable of attending to their personal care needs on most occasions. The service’s main aim is to assist people to develop or relearn the life skills to enable them to live independently in the community.

People felt secure and safe with their support workers who helped them remain safe from the risk of abuse.

People were protected because risk assessments had been completed to identify and reduce the risk of harm for people who lived at the service.

People were able to have their needs met because sufficient support workers were available to assist them throughout the week.

People were assisted by experienced support workers who had developed in-depth and personal knowledge of their needs likes and dislikes.

The provider had recruitment processes for the safe employment of support workers and processes which ensured they would receive the necessary induction and training to meet the support needs of people living at the service.

People were supported and received their medicines as prescribed by their healthcare professionals.

Peoples' consent was obtained before providing support and the provider understood and applied the legal requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

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

People were supported to make choices, take responsibility for their own daily activities and were encouraged to try new activities and learning opportunities.

People were provided with, or assisted to prepare, culturally appropriate food and drink.

People's mental health and physical health needs were assessed and people were supported to access their local health care professionals and mental health services when required.

People were supported by caring and respectful staff.

People’s needs were recorded in support plans which were being updated and regularly reviewed.

People knew how to complain about the service they received and were supported to make complaints and discuss issues of concern.

The provider had systems to assess and monitor the quality of the service and was introducing new policies and documentation to improve consistency at the service and meet people’s needs.