This inspection took place on 12 September 2016 and was announced. We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice that we would be visiting the service. This was because we wanted to make sure staff would be available to answer any questions we had or provide information that we needed. We also wanted the registered manager to ask people who use the service if we could contact them.

The service is registered to provide personal care and support to people in their own homes. At the time of the inspection the service was providing support and personal care to 10 people who were living in their own homes within a ‘supported living’ facility in the community. Supported living enables people who need personal or social support to live in their own home supported by care staff instead of living in a care home or with family. The levels of support people received from the service varied, according to their assessed needs and levels of independence.

There was 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.

People were supported by staff who had received training in how to recognise signs of abuse. Staff were aware of their responsibilities with regard to reporting any concerns and maintaining people’s safety. Risks to people were assessed and updated on a regular basis and communication systems were in place to ensure staff were in receipt of the most up to date information regarding people’s needs.

For those people who were supported to take their medication, systems were in place to ensure this was done safely. Systems were in place to ensure people were supported by sufficient numbers of staff who had been recruited safely.

Staff felt well supported in their role and benefitted from an induction that equipped them for their role. Staff received regular training and specific training was sourced to ensure staff were equipped to meet people’s particular health care needs.

Staff routinely obtained people’s consent prior to offering support and demonstrated a good working knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

People were supported by staff who were aware of their healthcare needs. The registered manager and project manager went to great lengths to ensure people received the healthcare support they needed.

People had warm and caring relationships with the staff who supported them and described them as kind and caring. People were treated with dignity and respect, were involved in the planning of their care and were supported to maintain their independence.

People’s care needs were regularly assessed and reviewed. People were supported and encouraged to maintain their interests by staff who knew them well. People felt listened to and their views were regularly sought on the quality of the care they received.

There was a system in place for investigation and recording complaints. People were confident that if they did raise concerns, they would be dealt with appropriately.

People were complimentary about the registered manager and considered the service to be well led. Staff felt supported in their role and listened to. The registered manager had created a number of links with other professionals in order to benefit service delivery.

Audits were in place to assess the quality of the care and support people received.