The inspection was announced and took place on 5 June 2017.

Brunswick Healthcare Limited has been registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) since October 2010. Since this time, a new provider had taken over the management of Brunswick Healthcare Limited. This change occurred on 19 January 2017. The new provider had retained the previous staff team, administrator and care co-ordinator. This was the first comprehensive inspection since the provider registered with CQC to provide personal care to people. As such, they had not yet received a CQC rating.

Brunswick Healthcare is a domiciliary care agency which provides personal care and support to people with a variety of needs including older people, people living with dementia, younger adults, people with a learning disability, autistic spectrum disorder, physical disability or sensory impairment and people who need support with their mental health. The agency's office is located in Hove in East Sussex. At the time of our inspection the service was providing personal care to seven people.

The registered manager had left the service in January 2017. The managing director who was also the provider was in the process of applying to be the registered manager, and had submitted an application to register with the Care Quality Commission (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. During the inspection the provider was present.

We found the provider was supportive to the administrator, care co-ordinator and staff. Everyone we spoke with told us the new provider had kept them informed of any changes. They said there had been no impact on the quality of service people received during the transfer of ownership.

People and care workers spoke highly of the care co-ordinator and the company. People expressed satisfaction with the service they received. Despite this, we found that quality assurance systems were not always being used to ensure accurate records were maintained and to drive improvements. We have made a recommendation about this in the main body of the report.

Risks to people's wellbeing and safety had been effectively mitigated. We found individual risks had been assessed and recorded in people's care plans. Examples of risk assessments relating to personal care included moving and handling, nutrition, falls and continence support. Health care needs were met well, with prompt referrals made when necessary.

People told us they felt safe receiving the care and support provided by the service. Staff understood and knew the signs of potential abuse and knew what to do if they needed to raise a safeguarding concern. Training schedules confirmed staff had received training in safeguarding adults at risk.

Robust recruitment and selection procedures were in place and appropriate checks had been made before staff began work at the service. There were sufficient levels of staff to protect people's health, safety and welfare in a consistent and reliable way.

Policies and procedures were in place to ensure the safe ordering, administration, storage and disposal of medicines. Medicines were managed safely.

The management team and staff had an understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and consent to care and treatment.

People chose their own food and drink and were supported to maintain a balanced diet where this was required.

People said staff were caring and kind and their individual needs were met. Staff knew people well and demonstrated they had a good understanding of people's needs and choices. Staff treated people with kindness, compassion and respect. Staff recognised people's right to privacy and promoted their dignity.

We looked at care records and found good sta