This inspection took place on 6 and 8 June 2018 and was announced. This is the first inspection for the provider.

One year ago the provider for the service changed. At this inspection we found there had been a positive feeling about the changes this brought. There was a period of transition occurring whilst the systems changed.

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community and specialist housing. It provides a service to older and younger disabled adults including people on the autistic spectrum. At the time of the inspection,13 people were receiving support with intimate care. Others required guidance with medicine administration. There were options to have up to 24-hour support from staff because there were sleep-in facilities in some of the homes.

This service provides care and support to people living in three ‘supported living’ settings, 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.

Each house had multiple occupation and two houses had the addition of some self-contained flats. Houses in multiple occupation are properties where at least three people in more than one household share toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities. The people in the flats were able to access support from staff and encouraged to work towards as much independence as possible.

Not everyone using Livability Somerset received a regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also take into account any wider social care provided.

“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.” Registering the Right Support CQC policy

At the time of the inspection 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 using the service thought they were kept safe and were comfortable in the presence of staff. Most medicines were managed safely. Improvements could be made for guidance for ‘as required’ medicines to ensure consistency. Risk assessments were carried out to enable people to retain their independence and receive care with minimum risk to themselves or others. One person with rapidly changing needs, had not always had guidance for staff updated and training in line with the changes.

The management had developed positive relationships with people. People and their relatives were happy with the support they received. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs and recruitment had resolved some recent staff shortages. Inconsistencies were found with staff recruitment. These were resolved during and following the inspection.

People were protected from potential abuse because staff understood how to recognise signs of abuse and knew who to report it to. When there had been accidents or incidents systems were in place to demonstrate lessons learnt and how improvements were made. Staff had been trained in areas to have skills and knowledge required to effectively support people. People told us their healthcare needs were met and staff supported them to see other health professionals

People were supported to have choice an