This inspection visit took place on 25 August 2016 and was announced. The provider was given two days’ notice of our inspection visit to ensure the manager and care staff were available when we visited the agency’s office.

The service was last inspected in July 2013 when we found the provider was compliant with the essential standards described in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010.

Summer Field Court provides care to people in their own homes, within a single community. The service provides care and domiciliary support for older people and people with a learning disability who live in their own home. People were supported in 72 flats within the complex. Most people received support and care visits each day. On the day of our inspection visit the service was providing support to 48 people. Some people who lived at Summer Field Court did not receive any support and were independent.

The complex included some communal areas where people could mix, form friendships and relationships and take part in stimulating activities. There was a day centre, several communal lounge areas, a shop, hairdresser and a restaurant at Summer Field Court.

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 refer to the registered manager as the manager in the body of this report.

People felt safe using the service and there were processes to minimise risks to people’s safety. These included procedures to manage identified risks with people’s care and for managing people’s medicines safely. Staff understood how to protect people from abuse and keep people safe. The character and suitability of staff was checked during recruitment procedures to make sure, as far as possible, they were safe to work with people who used the service.

There was enough staff to deliver the care and support people required. Although people told us there had been some recent staffing issues, care vacancies had now been recruited to. People told us staff were kind and knew how people liked to receive their care.

Staff received an induction when they started working for the service and completed regular training to support them in meeting people’s needs effectively. People told us staff had the right skills to provide the care and support they required.

Most of the care records we reviewed were up to date. The manager had identified the need to update care records, to increase the information provided to staff with regard to mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions. Care reviews were being undertaken to ensure care records were brought up to date. The managers understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA), and staff respected people’s decisions and gained people’s consent before they provided personal care.

Staff were supported by managers through regular meetings. There was an out of hours’ on call system which ensured management support and advice was always available for staff.

People told us the manager was approachable. Communication was encouraged and identified concerns were acted upon by the manager and provider. People knew how to complain and information about making a complaint was readily available for people. Staff said they could raise any concerns or issues with the managers, knowing they would be listened to and acted on. The provider monitored complaints to identify any trends and patterns, and made changes to the service in response to complaints.

Quality assurance systems assessed and monitored the quality of the service. People and staff were involved in developing the service. There was regular communication with people and staff whose views were gain

People told us that they were fully involved with the service that was provided to them. Staff told us that people have different levels and degree of care relevant to their needs. We saw that people were treated with respect and that their privacy was upheld.

One person told us, "It was the best decision to move to Summer Field Court, I am very happy here, fully satisfied with the accommodation and I can do what I want to do".

We saw staff supported people in a knowledgeable way when it was needed. People who used the service told us that staff helped them with the things they were unable to do for themselves whilst maintaining their own level of independence.

Staff told us they received sufficient training for them to do their job and that the management team were supportive. People told us the staff were kind, thoughtful and helpful.

Systems for monitoring the quality of the service were being reviewed. All documents and records we asked to see for this inspection were available, in good order and up to date.

This was a scheduled inspection. The service knew one day in advance that we were visiting. This was to make sure people were available to speak with us. We spoke with people that used the service, relatives, care staff and managers.

People said they were happy with the support they received. One person said: "They listen to me. It's down to me how they provide my care". People who could not tell us about their experiences appeared to have good relationships with the care staff.

People said that care staff provided their support at the agreed time and came quickly if they needed urgent support.

People told us and we observed in their records that staff knew about people's health care needs and were alert to changes in people's health. Some people were supported to take part in social and independent living activities. The manager was taking action to make sure that people were supported to have more access to the community.

Staff had the training and knowledge to identify poor practice and abuse. They knew how to act if they had any concerns.

The manager had introduced some systems to review and monitor the quality of the service people received but not all these were fully recorded.

Care staff were supported and trained to provide people with the support they needed. The service provided a range of training to provide staff with the skills to provide care at a satisfactory standard. Care staff were supervised and had an annual appraisal.