Creative Support – Stockport Supported Living Service provides support to people in and around Stockport. It is part of the national organisation ‘Creative Support’; a not-for-profit organisation which provides services for people with complex needs, including those affected by drug and alcohol misuse, autism, mental health needs and those with a learning disability.

Creative Support – Stockport Supported Living Service provides care and support to people living in 'supported living' settings, so that they can live in their own homes 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 the inspection the service was supporting 65 people in 16 supported living settings.

The service has been developed 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. By following these principles, services can support people with learning disabilities and autism to live as ordinary a life as any other citizen.

This was the first CQC inspection of this service. The service had a registered manager. 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 one recommendation about staff supervision.

Systems were in place to help safeguard people from abuse. Staff knew how to identify signs of abuse and what action to take to protect people they supported. Risk assessments had been completed to show how people should be supported with everyday risks. Recruitment checks had been carried out to ensure staff were suitable to work with vulnerable people.

A safe system of medicine management was in place. Staff received medicines training and competency assessments were carried out before they were permitted to administer medicines.

People were looked after by small teams of staff who were committed to providing support in a person-centred and caring way. We saw kind and caring interactions between staff and people they supported during our inspection. People were helped to be as independent as possible.

All new staff received a thorough induction. Staff completed training to ensure they had the knowledge and skills to support people safely.

The service was working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005. People were helped to make choices and take decisions where able, such as what activities they would like to do.

Staff worked closely with health and social care professionals to ensure people were supported to maintain good health and remain as independent as possible. People's support plans were person-centred. They contained detailed information about their preferred routines, likes and dislikes and how they wished to be supported.

The management team provided good leadership of the service. There was a process for handling complaints and concerns. Audits and quality checks were undertaken on a regular basis and any issues or concerns addressed with appropriate actions.