Upaya Ananda is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. This service does not provide nursing care. Upaya Ananda provides respite care for up to three people who live with a learning disability and/or autistic spectrum disorder and/or a physical disability.

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.

On the day of our comprehensive announced inspection on 23 October 2018, there was one person using the service. We gave 24 hours' notice of this inspection to make sure that people who used the service and staff would be available to see us.

At our previous inspection of 18 March 2016, this service was rated Good overall. We found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good overall. 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 continued to receive a safe service. There were systems in place designed to reduce the risks of abuse and avoidable harm. Where incidents happened, the service learned from these to drive improvement. Risks to people continued to be managed well. People were supported with their medicines in a safe way. Staff were available to support people and the systems to recruit staff safely were robust. Infection control systems continued to be managed well.

People continued to receive an effective service. People were supported by staff who were trained and supported to meet their needs. People had access to health professionals when needed. Staff worked with other professionals involved in people’s care. People’s nutritional needs were assessed and met. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The environment was well maintained and suitable for the people using the service.

People continued to receive a caring service. People shared positive relationships with staff. People’s privacy, independence and dignity was respected. People were listened to in relation to their choices, and they and their relatives, where appropriate, were involved in their care planning.

People continued to receive a responsive service. There were systems in place to assess, plan and meet people’s individual needs and preferences. People’s had access to social activities to reduce the risks of isolation and boredom. There was a complaints procedure in place.

People continued to receive a service which was well-led. The service provided was assessed and monitored to provide people with a good quality service. Where shortfalls were identified actions were taken to improve. People were asked for their views about the service and these were valued and listened to. As a result, the service continued to improve.

The inspection took place on 18 March 2016 and was unannounced. The service was last inspected in December 2013 and was found to be compliant with the regulatory requirements.

Upaya Ananda supports adults with Learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder and provides a short break or respite care service for up to three people at any one time. In total there were 14 people regularly using the service and 8 individuals on an occasional basis. Individuals used the service for periods between one to seven nights. On the day of our inspection there were two people using the service.

There was a registered manager in post at the time of the inspection, although they were not available as they were on holiday, however we did speak with them by telephone. 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 and their relatives told us that they liked using the service and looked forward to their time there. The building was purpose built and in a good state of repair. There were systems in place to reduce the risks to people and there were clear plans in place for emergencies. Staffing levels were flexible and were adjusted to take account of the needs of the individuals using the service at any one time.

Staff were clear about how and when they should be administering medicines. People were supported with their health needs and relatives told us that staff communicated well with them. Staff were trained in a range of areas including medication, safeguarding and first aid.

People were encouraged to be independent and to exercise choice in how they were supported. People had good access to community services during their stay. Complaints were investigated and responded to.

The manager was accessible and staff were motivated and supported. Staff understood the aims and objectives of the service and worked towards these. They were clear about what was expected of them and there were systems in place to review the care provided.

Upaya Ananda provides respite care for adults with a learning disability and physical disabilities. The service can care for up to three people at any one time, but cares for many different people throughout each year.

At our visit all of the people being supported were out at their various day activities and we were not able to speak with them. We spoke on the telephone with the relatives of three people who used the service regularly. One relative commented, "The place is a God-send for us; it's a lovely place, run by open and up-front people." Another relative said, "The place is positive, full of activities and fun; the team works hard and thinks ahead." Another relative stated, "I am very happy with the service." None of the relatives we spoke with had any concerns about the service and all of their comments were complimentary.

The accommodation was clean and was appropriately suited to meet the needs of the people who were supported there.The provider had systems in place that ensured the safe receipt, storage, administration and recording of medicines.

We saw that support plans and risk assessments were informative and up to date. Staff we spoke with were aware of their contents, which supported them to deliver appropriate and safe care. Systems for the recruitment of staff were robust. People were supported by staff who were appropriately trained and supported to deliver safe care.

We found that the provider had made the improvements we had asked them to make following our previous visit to the service on the 15 June 2012. These improvements ensured that people experienced care, treatment and support that met their needs and protected their rights and to ensure that risks to their health, safety and welfare were being managed.

There were three people using the service on the afternoon of our visit. We saw that staff were friendly and supportive and had a good understanding of the needs of the people staying for respite that evening. We observed that all three people were relaxed and doing activities of their choice. They told us that they were “Happy” and “Enjoyed” staying at Upaya Ananda.

We made two visits to the service. The first visit took place on the 15 June 2012, however there were no people booked in for respite that day. Therefore we arranged to return early the following week. During our visit to Apaya Ananda, we were told by one person that they were, “Happy” with the service they received. They told us that they were always asked what they would like to do whilst staying at the service. They said they were spending the evening going to the local pub, for a meal and to watch the football.

We noted that each bedroom had a lock and were told by one of the people using the service that staff always knocked on their bedroom door before entering, which respected their privacy and dignity.