Long Stratton Supported Living is registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes and in supported living premises. There were three people receiving personal care from the service when we visited. The inspection took place on 9 November 2016. We gave the provider 48hours’ notice before we visited to ensure that the registered manager was available to facilitate the inspection.

There was a registered manager in post. 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.

Staff were knowledgeable and understood their responsibilities in reporting any suspicions or incidents of harm to people. There were sufficient numbers of staff to meet people’s needs and recruitment procedures ensured that only suitable staff were employed. Risk assessments were in place for people deemed to be at risk and actions were taken to reduce any identified risks.

There were effective procedures in place to ensure that people were safely assisted with their medicines.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and report on what we find. Staff we met were able to demonstrate an understanding of MCA. This meant that any decisions made on people's behalf by staff would be in their best interest and as least restrictive as possible.

Staff were supported and trained to undertake their job and additional training was provided for specific care needs to be fully met. The team leaders and support staff were in contact with a range of health care professionals to ensure that people’s care and support was well coordinated.

People’s privacy and dignity was respected and their support was provided in a caring and a patient way.

People were supported to ensure they ate and drank sufficient quantities. People had the choice to eat the food they preferred and healthy eating was promoted by care staff.

Care and support was provided based on people’s individual personal and social care needs. There was a process in place so that people’s concerns and complaints were listened to and these were acted upon.

The provider had quality assurance processes and procedures in place to monitor the quality and safety of people’s care. People were able to make changes to the support and care provided to them by the service.