Valley House in the Vineyard Limited

Valley House is in a rural area and is set within the grounds of a vineyard. The home has two floors with bedrooms on each floor and communal areas on the ground floor. It has a garden and an outside area that is shared with the vineyard that people can use.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people that use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice and independence. People using the service received planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that was appropriate and inclusive for them.

People's experience of using the service and what we found People, their relatives and professionals told us people were safe and our observations confirmed this. Staff knew people well and understood individual care and support needs. Staff understood the importance of safeguarding and were able to tell us what they would do if they had concerns about a person's wellbeing. Risk assessments were in place and specific to people's needs. Staff were recruited safely and people living at the service took part in the interview process. There were always enough staff on duty to meet people's needs. The induction process was robust. Few medicines were used at the home but those that were, were ordered, stored, provided and disposed of safely.

People were supported to have control and to have choice in all aspects of their lives. Staff supported people in the least restrictive way and in their best interests. Staff received regular, relevant training and were able to select some courses that they felt would help them meet the needs of people. This included mental capacity and safeguarding training. People's nutritional needs were met, and people were supported to receive support from health and social care professionals when required.

Staff were caring and understanding towards people. People's privacy, dignity and independence were respected and promoted. People's differences under the Equalities Act 2000 were explored, documented and respected.

Support for people was person-centred and focussed on individual's needs. Care plans were reviewed with people, their relatives and professionals. People had routines inside and outside of the home. A comprehensive range of activities was available to people and strong links had been established with the local community. Although no complaints had been received, there was a complaints policy and people and

their relatives knew how to raise concerns.

The registered manager and deputy manager were both well thought of by people, relatives and professionals. The deputy manager was present at the inspection and we saw people speaking with him and responding to him in a positive way. Staff were positive about the managers and the home. One staff member said, "I want to stay here until I retire. I've worked in care all my life. This is like home from home." Audit processes were in place and feedback was sought from people, staff, relatives and professionals.

The Secretary of State has asked the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to conduct a thematic review and to make recommendations about the use of restrictive interventions in settings that provide care for people with or might have mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or autism. Thematic reviews look in- depth at specific issues concerning quality of care across the health and social care sectors. They expand our understanding of both good and poor practice and the potential drivers for improvement.

As part of this thematic review, we carried out a survey with the deputy manager at this inspection. This considered whether the service used any restrictive intervention practices (restraint, seclusion and segregation) when supporting people. The service used positive behaviour support principles to support people in the least restrictive way. The home did not use any restraint measures.

For more details, see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at the last inspection The last rating for this service was good. (Published 26 January 2017)