Ryde Cottage

This inspection took place on 2 and 12 November 2018 and was unannounced. The gap in the inspection dates was due the availability of key people, including the people who lived at the service.

Accommodation was arranged over two floors which could be accessed by a staircase. There was an open plan communal area for social interaction and a quiet room for people to use if required. People also had access to an enclosed garden which had seating and tables available.

The home 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.

We last inspected the service in October 2017 when we did not identify any breaches of regulation, but rated the service as 'Requires improvement'. At this inspection, we found improvements had been made.

At the time of the inspection there was not a registered manager in post at the service, there was a manager who had taken over the overall running of the service who had applied to the Care Quality Commission to become registered to manage the home. 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.

People felt safe living at Ryde Cottage. Staff knew how to identify, prevent and report abuse. Safeguarding investigations were completed and actions were taken in a timely why when safeguarding concerns were raised with the service.

There were sufficient staff employed to meet people's needs; keep them safe and provide them with person- centred support. Appropriate recruitment procedures were in place to ensure only suitable staff were employed.

Individual and environmental risks to people were managed effectively. Risk assessments identified risks to people and provided clear guidance to staff on how risks should be managed and mitigated.

Arrangements were in place for the safe management of medicines. People received their medicines as prescribed. The home was clean and staff followed best practice guidance to control the risk and spread of infection.

People received effective care from staff who were competent, suitably trained and supported in their roles. Staff acted in the best interests of people and followed legislation designed to protect people's rights and freedom.

Staff understood people's health needs and people had access to health professionals and other specialists if they needed them. Procedures were in place to help ensure that people received consistent support when the moved between services.

People were provided with individualised, person-centred care. Care plans contained detailed information to enable staff to provide care and support in a personalised way. People were empowered to make choices about all aspects of their lives. They had access to a range of activities suited to their individual interests.

Staff developed caring and positive relationships with people and were sensitive to their individual choices. People were treated with dignity and respect and staff protected people's privacy.

The management team and staff worked collaboratively with other health and social care professionals to help ensure there was a co-ordinated approach to the delivery of effective care and support.

People, their families and staff had the opportunity to become involved in developing the service.

There were robust auditing and quality assurance processes to place to allow ongoing learning and development.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found