Echo Square House

Echo Square is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The service provides support for up to three adults with a learning disability. There were three people with autism living at the service at the time 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.

The service continued to be run by a registered manager who was present on the day of our visit. 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 comprehensive inspection on 4 December 2015 the service was rated Good, but the domain of 'safe' was rated Requires improvement as there was a breach of regulation with regards to staff recruitment. At a focused inspection on 3 February 2017 we found there were no breaches of regulation and the domain of 'safe' was rated as 'Good'. At this inspection we found the service remained 'Good'.

Staff had received training about protecting people from abuse and knew how to follow the provider's safeguarding procedures to raise concerns.

Staffing levels had been maintained to ensure there were enough staff available to meet people's physical, social and emotional needs.

People's care was planned to maintain their safety, health and wellbeing. Positive risk assessment took place to maintain people's safety and enable them to be as independent as possible. Systems were in place to monitor incidents and accidents.

Medicines continue to be managed, stored, disposed of and administered safely. People received their medicines when they needed them and as prescribed.

Staff received the training they needed for their roles and were supported through regular supervision and an annual appraisal.

Staff understood the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and how to support people's best interest if they lacked capacity.

People's health, social and physical needs were assessed and clear guidance was in place to ensure they were effectively monitored. Care plans included information about people's personal history, what was important to them and how diagnoses of autism affected them, so staff could meet their needs and individual preferences.

People continued to experience care that was caring and compassionate. They were supported by a staff team who had known them for many years and positive relationships had developed where people were valued and respected. Staff knew how to communicate with people in a way they understood and to provide an environment and atmosphere where people felt safe and reassured.

There were policies in place that ensured people would be listened to and treated fairly if they complained about the service. Information on a range of topics had been provided for people in an easy read format.

The registered manager was approachable and the atmosphere in the service was relaxed and informal. They were supported by a staff team who understood the aims of the service and were proud and motivated to support people according to their choices and preferences.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found