This was the first inspection of this service since it was registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) on 10 March 2017. The inspection took place on 16 April 2018 and was announced. This service provides care and support to people living in two supported living settings, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support. At the time of our inspection one person lived at one of the supported living settings and three people lived at the other.

The service is registered to support people with learning disabilities and on the autistic spectrum. The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

At the time of inspection the service did not have a registered manager in place. There was a manager who had made an application to register with CQC and was going through the application process when we visited. 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.

We have made two recommendations. One was because the provider had not established robust systems for monitoring the quality of care and support provided. We also made one recommendation about induction training for new staff.

There were enough staff working at the service to meet people’s needs and robust staff recruitment procedures were in place. The service had appropriate safeguarding procedures. Risk assessments provided information about how to support people in a safe manner. Procedures were in place to reduce the risk of the spread of infection. Medicines were manages in a safe manner.

People’s needs were assessed before they started using the service to determine if those needs could be met. Staff received on-going training to support them in their role. People were able to make choices for themselves and the service operated within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People told us they enjoyed the food. People were supported to access relevant health care professionals. We have made a recommendation that new staff undertake the Care Certificate, which is a training programme designed specifically for staff that are new to working in the care sector.

People told us they were treated with respect and that staff were caring. Staff had a good understanding of how to promote people’s privacy, independence and dignity.

Care plans were in place which set out how to meet people’s individual needs. Care plans were subject to regular review. People were supported to engage in various activities. The service had a complaints procedure in place and people knew how to make a complaint.

Staff and people spoke positively about the senior staff at the service.