We spoke with one person who used the service, the registered manager, a staff member and the family member of a person who used the service during this inspection. We also looked at the quality assurance systems. This helped answer our five questions; is the service caring? Is the service responsive? Is the service safe? Is the service effective? Is the service well led? Below is a summary of what we found.This was a respite or emergency care service for people with a learning disability. There were two people accommodated at the home. We talked to a family member of a person who used the service who was not at the home on the day of the visit and looked at quality assurance survey forms to help us gain a better judgement of the care home.
Is the service safe?
People were treated with respect and dignity by the staff. A person who used the service said she felt safe and a family member said, "She feels safe. They provide female staff to look after her which I think is important". Safeguarding procedures were robust and staff understood how to safeguard the people they supported. We saw that there were effective systems on the prevention of or reporting possible abuse.
Systems were in place to make sure that managers and staff learn from events such as accidents and incidents, complaints, concerns, whistleblowing and investigations. We saw that managers conducted audits on concerns, incidents, compliments and complaints to help improve the service. We noted no complaints had been made despite the regular contact with people who used the service or their families to ask their views.
A person who used the service told us, "The home is clean and tidy. I help to keep my room clean". A family member said, "The rooms are very nice. It is beautiful here. The home is very clean and tidy". The service was safe, clean and hygienic. Equipment was well maintained and serviced regularly therefore not putting people at unnecessary risk. We saw that electrical and fire equipment had been maintained in the office and fire drills were conducted in the home.
Staff we spoke with and from the documents we looked at we saw that staff had been trained in mandatory topics such as health and safety, first aid, food hygiene, fire awareness, moving and handling, infection control and the administration of medication. Staff were sufficiently trained to deliver effective care
Is the service effective?
People's health and care needs were assessed with them, and they were involved in writing their plans of care. Specialist dietary, mobility and equipment needs had been identified in care plans where required. We saw that people had health care plans to keep their care up to date. Staff regularly contacted people who used their service or a family member to help keep care and social needs up to date and amended plans for people's next visit. A person who used the service told us, "The care I get is the care I need. I agreed to the care I get. I have been well looked after". A family member said, "I have come to review the care plan. The care plan is what my daughter needs. I have agreed to the care she gets. My daughter loves it here. She likes coming which makes me happy. She feels very safe here". Quality assurance survey forms showed us that people were satisfied with the service they received. People we spoke with were very satisfied with the care they received.
People who used the service were supported to make decisions and helped with their finances if it was required. We saw that one person who used the service was supported to go shopping for her own needs. She was being supported to move into more independent living by staff who were familiar with her needs.
Systems were in place to make sure that managers and staff learn from events such as accidents and incidents, complaints, concerns, whistleblowing and investigations. This reduced the risks to people and helped the service to continually improve.
Is the service caring?
A person who used the service told us,"The staff are very nice. They know what they are doing. They are very friendly. My stay here has been very happy and I have enjoyed it". A family member said, "The staff are very nice, wonderful and helpful. They keep me up to date with her care. I am very happy with the care and support I get, I get a break". People were supported by kind and attentive staff.
People who used the service, their family, friends and other professionals were asked about their views of the care home. This included an annual survey which we looked at and saw the positive results. The provider used the comments and surveys to improve the service.
People had what the service called 'personal care plans'. The plans contained very detailed past histories. The information gave staff an insight into people's likes and dislikes, their aspirations for the future and how staff could help them attain their goals. We saw that staff were careful to meet the ethnicity of people who used the service by providing suitable meals, staff who were aware of special religious or cultural support and respecting people's choices such as supporting a person to be vegetarian. Care was provided in accordance with people's diverse needs, which included any religious or ethnic needs.
One person who used the service told us, "I can get a drink when I want. The food is very good and they cater for me being a vegetarian. I get good variety and it's my choice. I am lactose intolerant and they make sure I eat healthily". A family member said, "They give her the correct food for her cultural needs. There are staff who are the same religion and they could offer instruction about my daughters needs if necessary". Plans of care showed people's choices and needs were recorded around their nutrition. A staff member said, "Where possible our role is to support people who use the service to prepare and make meals. It is their choice of what they eat and we would only interfere and seek help if we thought their diet was unhealthy". People were given sufficient food and drink to maintain their nutritional needs.
Is the service responsive?
People who used the service had a wide range of interests and hobbies recorded in their plans of care. One person who used the service told us, "I go shopping, to the cinema or ten pin bowling, we have meals out, do jigsaws and play computer games. We also go to places I like such as Clitheroe or places with animals". A family member said, "She goes out to bowling, cinemas and shopping. They take her to her appointments that she would have if she was at home". People completed a range of activities in and outside the service regularly.
The service conducted surveys and contacted people who used the service on a regular basis to ensure they received the care they needed.
Is the service well-led?
We saw that the service worked well with other agencies and organisations. We saw that meetings with professionals were arranged if it was necessary. On the day of the inspection a family member was in the home discussing the care of her daughter for the next time she visited.
The service had quality assurance systems in place and records showed that people who used the service and other organisations were happy with the service provided. Staff we spoke with felt supported. A member of staff said, "We have a good staff team and work together". Staff meetings gave staff the chance to voice their opinion about how the service was run and how to help improve care. As a result the quality of the service was continually improving.
We saw that staff were well trained and understood their roles. Staff also had access to a copy of the Skills for Care codes of conduct. This document guides staff on how to lead other staff and what is expected of each individual. This helped to ensure people received a good quality service at all times.