Our inspection was announced and took place on 11 October 2016. We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice that we would be visiting the service. This was because we wanted to make sure staff were available to answer any questions we had or provide information that we needed. We also wanted the registered manager to ask people who used the service if we could visit them in their home. This was the first inspection of the service since the change of legal entity took place on 01 October 2016.

The service is registered to provide personal care to people in their own homes. At the time of the inspection the service was providing personal care to 5 people who were living in their own home’s within three separate ‘supported living’ facilities.

There was a registered manager in post and they were present during our inspection. 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.

There were systems in place to ensure that the service was assessed and the quality of care provided to people was monitored. We found that these had not always identified where some improvements were needed. However, we found that the registered manager was responsive and took action to ensure improvements were made.

People felt safe using the service and they were protected from the risk of abuse because the provider had systems in place to minimise the risk of abuse.

People were supported by staff that were kind, caring and respectful and knew them well. People were treated with dignity and respect. People were supported to make everyday decisions themselves, which helped them to maintain their independence.

Staff understood people’s needs well. Staff received the training and support they needed to carry out their role. Staff had a good understanding of risks associated with people’s care needs and knew how to support them. There were enough staff to support people safely. Recruitment procedures ensured that only staff of a suitable character to care for people were employed.