This inspection took place on 14 December 2016. The inspection was announced, and we gave the provider 48 hours’ notice to ensure there was a manager available to assist with the inspection process.

There is a registered manager at the service. 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.

MHT Midlands is a supported living service which provides people with personal care and supports people, with a range of health and social care needs, to live in the community. At the time of our inspection, 16 people were receiving care and support from the provider.

The day-to-day management of the service and staff was carried out by the registered manager. The registered manager and staff had a sound understanding about the people who used the service. The service was focused on the needs of individuals and there was a commitment by the registered manager and the staff, to ensure people received the care and support they wanted and needed.

The service was focused on each person and accounted for personal likes, dislikes, needs and aspirations. Staff encouraged people to make their own day-to-day decisions and respected those decisions whilst balancing people’s safety.

Staff were aware of the need to keep people safe and to protect them from the risk of potential harm or abuse. Staff and the registered manager understood procedures in relation to safeguarding and ensured any allegation of abuse was recorded and reported in the appropriate manner.

People were cared for by staff who had demonstrated their suitability for their respective role. Recruitment procedures were safe and included Disclosure and Barring service (DBS) checks.

People’s medicines were managed safely and in accordance with current regulations and guidance. Staff received training in medicines administration and competency assessments were carried out.

Staff participated in training and supervision; they understood their roles and responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). Capacity assessments and best interest decisions were available in people’s care plans.

Staff supported each person in a manner which promoted people’s independence. People were encouraged and supported to take part in activities of their choice. People’s right to privacy and dignity was respected by staff. Staff were kind, caring and compassionate; relationships between staff and people were positive.

Staff received training to ensure they were providing appropriate and effective care and to support people and their individual needs. People were involved in the assessment and planning of their care and care plans; we saw information was provided to people in different formats, to ensure they were included.

Staff felt they were supported by the registered manager; staff thought the team worked well together. The registered manager had effective auditing systems in place to assess and monitor the quality of the service. People and their relatives were asked for their opinions and views about the service they received.