This inspection took place on 06 August 2018 and was announced. This was the first inspection of this service since registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in June 2015.

Delava Care provides care and support to people living in a supported living setting, so that they can live in their own home 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.

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.

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. Delava Care is a small service and the registered provider and registered manager are the same person.

Staff were knowledgeable about safeguarding and whistleblowing procedures. The provider had safe recruitment processes in place. There were enough staff available to meet people's needs. Risk assessments were carried out to mitigate the risks of harm people may face at home and in the community. There were systems in place to ensure people received their medicines as prescribed. People were protected from the risks associated with the spread of infection. The registered manager analysed accidents and incidents and used this information as a learning tool to improve the service.

People had a comprehensive assessment to ensure the service could meet their needs. New staff received an induction and were offered on-going training during their employment. Staff were supported with regular supervisions and annual appraisals to help ensure they could deliver care effectively. People were supported to eat a nutritionally balanced diet and to maintain their health. The management and staff understood their responsibility to obtain consent from people before delivering care.

Staff knew about people's care needs and described how they developed caring relationships. The provider included people and their relatives where appropriate in decision making and in their care planning. Staff were knowledgeable about equality and diversity. People were supported to maintain their independence and their privacy and dignity was promoted.

Care records were personalised, contained people's preferences and the goals they wanted to achieve. The registered manager reviewed people's care plans regularly to help ensure care was delivered appropriately. Staff understood how to deliver a personalised care service. The service had a complaints procedure and people knew how to make a complaint.

People’s relatives and staff spoke positively about the registered manager. Feedback was obtained from people about the quality of the service provided in order to make improvements where needed. Staff had regular meetings to keep them updated on training and good care practice. The registered manager carried out regular observations of staff working to monitor the quality of the service being delivered.