Siesta

Siesta is a respite unit for people with a learning disability and is registered to support up to seven people at any one time. People stay at the service for varying periods of time: some people stay for two days each week while others spend one to two weeks a month at the service. At the time of the inspection there were five people receiving respite support.

People using this service 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. Accommodation is provided over two floors. On the ground floor there are five spacious en-suite bedrooms fitted with equipment to support people with impaired mobility. One the first floor, there is a two-bedroomed self-contained apartment. A large communal lounge, dining area and kitchen are situated on the ground floor.

Siesta respite service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin 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. During the inspection the service was able to demonstrate these principles through individualised support for people to be actively involved in the community and to learn new skills.

The service had a registered manager. 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.

People received safe care and support while staying at Siesta. There were sufficient staff available to support people with their care needs as well as to participate in community activities. Staff had been safely recruited and were aware of their responsibilities to safeguard people from abuse. People's care needs and any associated risks were documented and staff were knowledgeable about these and how to support people safely while respecting their preferences. Where specialist advice was necessary to guide staff about people's care needs, this was sought and the guidance was documented to ensure consistency in care provision. Training ensured staff had the skills and competence to support people well.

People told us they were happy at Siesta; we saw they enjoyed being with staff and were pleased to see them when they arrived for their stay. Relatives said the service was safe and they were very pleased with the support provided. Where people were supported to manage their medicines and finances, this was done safely.

Staff were aware of the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in that it should be assumed each person has capacity to make decisions about their care and support. Care plans guided staff about how to support people with decision making and expressing their choices. Communication passports guided staff about how to support people to express themselves and people's communication was supported in a number of ways. For example, with the use of computers, signs, symbols and sign language.

Staff described the culture and aims of the service as being "person-centred", "promoting independence", "community involvement" and "family". Staff were passionate about supporting people in a way that promoted their independence, expanding their experiences and protected their right not to be discriminated against. This culture was reflected in the comments we received from relatives, one of whom described the service as "brilliant".

The service was well managed. Relatives and staff said the registered manager and management team were approachable and they felt able to raise any concerns they might have. The registered manager and management team ensured people, relatives and staff received the support they needed. Regular meetings provided the opportunity to share information, review how well the service was supporting people and discuss how the service could be improved. Quality assurance systems were used effectively to ensure the environment remained safe and the service was meeting people's needs.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found