St Anne's Community Services - Cherry Tree Dispersed

The Cherry Tree Dispersed Scheme provides 24-hour care for adults with learning disabilities, in two houses in a quiet residential area of Wetherby, just outside of Leeds. The service is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as 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.

At the time of our inspection there were eight adults with learning disabilities 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 so that people with learning disabilities and autism can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

At our last inspection in May 2016, we rated the service 'good'. At this inspection, 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.

The service had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the 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. The registered manager also managed two other of the provider's services and split their time between managing these services.

People told us they felt safe. Sufficient staff were employed; however, we have recommended that the provider keeps this under review. Staff were safely recruited. Risks to people's health were assessed and understood. Staff were trained to recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns. Some problems relating to the cleanliness of the premises were identified at the inspection; the registered manager addressed these promptly. Medicines were managed safely.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff had regular training, supervisions and appraisals to support them to provide effective care. People had choice around what they ate and were supported to maintain good health.

We observed kind and caring interactions between people and staff. There was a positive and inclusive culture at the service. The provider promoted a culture of dignified and respectful care People were supported to increase or maintain their independence and were involved in planning their care.

Care plans were person centred, detailed and updated as and when people's care needs changed. People were supported to lead active and fulfilling lives. Systems were in place to manage complaints. Information was provided in a range of accessible ways and staff provided effective support to help people communicate.

Quality assurance processes were in place to monitor the quality of care delivered. The registered manager and staff worked in partnership with external health and social care professionals to ensure people's health and social care needs were met. We received positive feedback about the management team. They were described as supportive, effective and committed to providing good quality care and support for people.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found