Easy Living Solutions (ELS) is a small domiciliary care agency, providing care to people living in Newent and the surrounding villages in Gloucestershire. At the time of our inspection it was providing personal care to 24 people living in their own homes. Not everyone using ELS receives a regulated activity. CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with 'personal care'; which is help with tasks related to personal hygiene, eating and medicines. Where people receive personal care we also take into account any wider social care provided. ELS provide a service to older people, younger adults, people living with dementia and people living with a physical disability.

ELS was re-registered with CQC in June 2016 when the provider changed to a limited company. This is the first inspection carried out under this registration.

A registered manager was in post; they were registered to manage ELS in June 2016. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.

People felt safe with the service provided and with the staff who supported them. Staff understood how to protect people from harm and abuse. Risks to people's safety were identified and appropriate steps were taken to reduce these risks. Environmental risks were assessed and responded to appropriately. There were sufficient staff on duty and recruitment procedures were thorough. People received their medicines as prescribed.

People were supported by knowledgeable staff who received ongoing training and support to maintain or improve their skills and competency. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People were supported to eat and drink sufficient amounts and the service worked with external health and social care professionals to meet people’s changing needs.

People received support from caring staff who understood their needs and knew what was important to them. People’s privacy was respected and they were treated with dignity, kindness and compassion. Relatives of people for whom ‘end of life’ care had been provided, were highly complementary of the care their relative had received.

People received personalised and responsive care which enabled them to live at home for as long as possible. People could raise concerns about the service and have their complaints listened to.

Everyone we spoke with commented positively on the leadership of the service and told us they were able to speak with the registered manager or provider when they needed to. There were systems in place to seek the views of people, their relatives, staff and visiting care professionals. Additional systems ensured key messages were communicated and the quality of the service was monitored. Improvements needed to some people’s support plans were in progress.