This inspection took place on 25 July 2017 and was announced.

This service provides care and support to people living in ‘supported living’ accommodation, so that they can live in their own home as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate agreements; this inspection looked at their personal care and support arrangements.

There was a registered manager in post who was on a period of extended leave. The provider had therefore appointed another manager to manage the service in their absence. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

There were two people receiving the regulated activity of personal care at the service when we inspected.

People told us the care they received was safe and they had no concerns about their welfare. People told us they felt safe when the staff were with them in or out of their home. Staff knew the action to take if a person was at risk of potential abuse to ensure they were protected from further risk.

People had their individual risks looked at and had discussed how these could be reduce with plans in place to manage them. There were enough staff to ensure that people had their calls at the agreed time and by the required number of staff. People who required support with their medicines were confident that staff helped them in receiving their medicines when required.

Staff received regular training so their skills and knowledge reflected the needs of the people they cared for. Staff were supported with regular supervisions with the management team, to reflect and discuss how their role and responsibilities were being met. Where people needed support with their meals they told us they were happy that staff gave them a choice or provided the assistance needed to enjoy their meal.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People who could not make decisions for themselves were supported to make decisions in their best interest. People received support to plan, make and prepare their meals. Healthcare appointments were arranged for people if needed and staff had helped to arrange transport or went with them.

People knew the staff and felt they provided a personalised service where time was spent chatting while providing care and getting to know them. People felt the care they met their needs. They were also supported in maintaining their dignity and encouraged to be involved in their care planning where able.

People and staff we spoke with told us the management team were available to talk with and would listen and act of any feedback provided on the service. The management team had kept their knowledge current with support from the provider and external professionals. The management team led by example and they regularly checked on the quality of the care that people received. The manager had developed a clear plan of improvements and was working towards achieving these throughout the year.