Smock Acre

Smock Acre is a 'care home'. 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. Smock Acre is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for a maximum of three people. The home specialises in providing care to people with learning disabilities and 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. At the time of our inspection there were three people living in the service. The service was arranged over one floor.

The service 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.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found 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.

Processes were in place to keep people safe from different types of abuse. When risks to people or the environment were identified, action was taken to minimise them. There were enough staff to meet people's needs and staff were recruited safely. People were supported with their medicines in a safe way. People were protected by the prevention and control of infection. Lessons were learned when things went wrong.

People's needs were assessed and care and support was delivered in line with current legislation and best practice guidelines. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to meet people's needs. People were supported to lead healthier lives and had timely access to healthcare services. People were supported to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced diet. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.

People were treated with kindness and compassion. People were supported to express their views and be actively involved in making decisions about their care and support. People's relatives were also involved in decision making. People were encouraged to be as independent as possible. People's dignity and privacy was respected. People's personal information was kept private.

People received person-centred care that was responsive to their needs. People knew how to complain and complaints were responded to in line with the service's policies and procedures. Staff knew how to identify people who might be coming to the end of their life.

Staff said the service was open, transparent and that they felt supported by their managers. There were audits in place which checked the quality of the service being provided. Staff were involved in developing the service. The registered manager had developed links with the local community.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found