Alexandra House - Gloucester

Alexandra House is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. Alexandra House accommodates nine people in one adapted building. There were nine people living at Alexandra House on the day of our inspection.

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.

There was 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The service had suitable systems for identifying and responding to allegations of abuse. Recruitment processes ensured that new staff were of good character and suitable to work with people.

Staff had received training appropriate to their role. Staff had received training around safeguarding and were confident to raise any concerns relating to potential abuse or neglect. Staff received regular supervision from the management team.

The administration and management of medicines was safe. There were sufficient numbers of staff working at Alexandra House.

Risk assessments were updated to ensure people were supported in a safe manner and risks were minimised. Where people had suffered an accident, action had been taken to ensure the ongoing safety of the person.

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. People were encouraged to make choices about their day to day lives. People were supported to access health professionals. They could choose what they liked to eat and drink and were supported on a regular basis to participate in meaningful activities. People were supported in an individualised way that encouraged them to be as independent as possible.

The service worked in line with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in terms of people's consent to care and acting in their best interests where appropriate.

People and their relatives were positive about the care and support they received. They told us staff were caring and kind and they felt safe living in the home. We observed staff supporting people in a caring and patient way. Staff knew people they supported well and were able to describe what they liked to do and how they liked to be supported.

The service was responsive to people's needs. Care plans were person centred to guide staff to provide consistent, high quality care and support. Daily records were detailed and provided evidence of person centred care.

The service was well led. Quality assurance checks were in place and identified actions to improve the service. Staff and relatives spoke positively about the management team. People's feedback and the views of relatives and staff were sought to make improvements to their experience of the service.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found