This inspection took place on 17 and 23 May 2018, and was announced. Bracknell Supported Living Service is a supported living service (SLS). SLS provides support and personal care to people within shared accommodation where people hold individual tenancies and share the support with specific hours of support added as required. This may include specific hours to help promote a person’s independence, assistance with personal care and well-being. Not everyone using Bracknell Supported Living Services receives regulated activity; Care Quality Commission (CQC) only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided. The service provided support to younger adults who had a diagnosis of learning disabilities or associated needs, with a varying level of personal care needs. At the time of the inspection two people using the service received the regulated activity of personal care, whilst other people received social and leisure support.

This was the first inspection completed for the service that registered with CQC in May 2017. The service had newly appointed a manager who was due to commence the process of registration with the CQC. 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.

The service had previously been managed by two registered managers who had both left the organisation within the last 12 months. A third manager commenced the registration process, however withdrew their application. The current manager was appointed thereafter. The services had therefore not had consistent managerial overview of operations. The service employed three part time staff, one newly recruited staff and four bank workers. The management of the service consisted of a newly appointed manager, the service manager and a consultant.

The management of the service had been inconsistent over the last 12 months. This had led to overall issues with service performance and management.

The service was not always safe. The service had not ensured that all staff employed had been through a robust recruitment process. During this inspection we found a breach of Regulation 19 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. The service did not follow their recruitment procedure to carry out checks before new staff were employed to work with people. They did not gather necessary information to ensure staff were suitable for their role. You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of the full version of this report.

Risks were appropriately assessed with details provided on how to mitigate risks where possible. These focused on people retaining their independence as far as possible such as outings, excursions with the family and accessing the internet.

Medicines were generally managed safely. Audits indicated that there had been no recent medicine errors. However, the paperwork did not clearly illustrate if staff had been appropriately assessed as competent prior to administering medicines. The service reassured us that all staff would be assessed prior to completing this task moving forward.

Staff were aware of signs of abuse and how to safeguard people from abuse. The service also spoke with people and taught them to understand how they should keep themselves safe.

Care plans were person centred and very detailed. They provided comprehensive step by step guidance to staff on how people needed to be supported. Reviews took place as required and involved people and their families.

The service worked effectively with external agencies and families in ensuring people