We undertook an unannounced inspection of Walsingham, 2 Ashley Close on the 28 August 2016.

The service provides accommodation and personal care for up to six people with a learning disability. On the day of our inspection, there were six people using the service.

The home had a registered manager in post. 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.

There were systems in place to keep people safe from harm. Staff had undertaken risk assessments which were regularly reviewed to minimise potential harm to people using the service.

There were appropriate numbers of staff employed to meet people’s needs and provide a safe and effective service. Staff we spoke with were aware of people’s needs, and provided people with person centred care. Staff were well supported to deliver a good service and felt supported by each other and their management team.

The provider had a robust recruitment process in place which ensured that staff were qualified and suitable to work in the home. This also included agency workers. Staff had undertaken appropriate training and had received regular supervision and an annual appraisal, which enabled them to meet people’s needs. Medicines were administered safely by staff who had received training.

Staff cared for people in a friendly and caring manner and knew how to communicate effectively with people. Staff supported people well and spent time with them. We observed staff engaging in meaningful activities with people.

People were supported to make decisions for themselves and encouraged to be as independent as possible. Where people were not able to make decisions for themselves, best interest decisions were made on their behalf which involved advocates and other professionals. People’s choices were respected and we saw evidence that people, relatives and/or other professionals were involved in planning the support people required. People were supported to eat and drink well and to access healthcare services when required.

The provider had a system in place to ensure that complaints were recorded and responded to in a timely manner as well as an effective system to monitor the quality of the service they provided.

Most of the people who lived at 2 Ashley Close did not have good verbal communication skills and those who had choose not to speak to us.

Discussions with staff and a review of records showed that the consent of the person was sought. If the person did not have verbal communications this was done through ensuring the staff understood the person’s body language. The care plans were detailed and contained people’s likes and dislikes, what made them happy, what made them unhappy and how they liked to spend the day.

We saw that the people were treated with respect and great care was taken to ensure the person had optimum independence.

The premises were in good condition and the people had been assisted to decorated their rooms in a manner that reflected their personality, hobbies and taste. The home had systems in place to monitor the quality of the service and to ensure the people who lived in the home had the best possible care.