This was an announced inspection which took place on 16 May 2018.

Care4U WE Ltd provides care to people living in ‘supported living’ settings. Everyone using the service receives a regulated activity. The Care Quality Commission only inspects the service being received by people provided with personal care, help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Thirteen people living in three residences were receiving regulated activity and were supported so they are able to live as independently as possible. Accommodation ranges from three to six people sharing a tenancy. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) does not regulate premises used for supported living, this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

This was the first inspection of the service which was registered on 17 May 2017.The service was rated as good in all domains. This means the service is overall good.

A registered manager was not running the service. However, there was a manager in post and they had applied to be registered with the CQC. 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.

Staff understood how to protect the people in their care and knew what action to take if they identified any concerns. General risks and risks to individuals were identified and action was taken to reduce them, as far as possible. People were supported to take their medicines safely (if they needed support in this area) and medicines given were recorded accurately. People were supported by care staff who had been safely recruited although records needed to reflect that more accurately. People benefitted from receiving care from an appropriate number of staff to ensure their needs could be met safely and effectively.

People were assisted by care staff who had been fully trained and were appropriately supported by senior staff to make sure they could meet people’s complex and varied needs. Care staff were effective in meeting people’s needs as described in plans of care. The service worked closely with health and other professionals to ensure they were able to meet people’s specific needs.

People were assisted to have maximum choice and control of their lives and care staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Care staff supported and encouraged people to make their own decisions about all aspects of their care.

People benefited because they were supported by caring and committed staff. Care staff built close relationships with people and knew their personalities, preferences and needs. The management team and care staff were aware of people’s equality and diversity needs which were noted on plans of care. Maintaining and developing people’s independence was recognised as a vital and core value of the service.

People were supported by a highly person centred and responsive service. The service was committed to meeting individuals’ current and changing complex needs. People’s needs were reviewed regularly to ensure the care provided was up-to-date. Everyone was able to verbally communicate but care plans included information to ensure any specific individual communication methods were understood.

The manager was described as very approachable, supportive and ‘hands on'. The manager and the staff team were committed to ensuring there was no discrimination relating to staff or people in the service. The service assessed, reviewed and improved the quality of care provided.