This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes. It provides a service to people with learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorder. At the time of our inspection, this service supported 3 people with a range of social care needs.

At the last inspection in December 2015, this service was rated overall good. At this inspection, we found the service remained good.

A registered manager was 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

People appeared to feel comfortable and safe with the staff team who provided their support. Relatives agreed their relatives were usually safe with the staff team who supported them.

Training on the safeguarding of adults had been completed and the staff team were aware of their responsibilities for keeping people safe from avoidable harm. The registered manager understood their responsibilities for keeping people safe and knew to refer any concerns on to the local authority and Care Quality Commission (CQC).

People's support needs had been identified and risks associated with people's care had been assessed and monitored. There were arrangements in place to make sure action was taken and lessons learned when things went wrong, to improve safety across the service.

Staff recruitment procedures ensured appropriate pre-employment checks were carried out to ensure only suitable staff worked at the service. Adequate staffing levels were in place.

Staff induction and on-going training was provided to ensure they had the skills, knowledge and support they needed to perform their roles. Staff were well supported by the registered manager and team leader and had regular one to one supervisions.

People were protected by the prevention and control of infection. The staff team had received training in infection control and understood their responsibilities around this.

People received their medicines as prescribed and staff supported people to access support from healthcare professionals when required. The service worked with other organisations to ensure that people received coordinated and person-centred care and support.

Staff demonstrated their understanding of the Mental Capacity Act, 2005 (MCA) and they gained people's consent before providing support.

People were involved in planning how their support would be provided and staff took time to understand people’s needs and preferences. Support documentation provided staff with guidance regarding the support people needed to maintain their independence. Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect and spent time getting to know them and their specific needs and wishes.

People, relatives and staff were encouraged to provide feedback about the service and it was used to drive continuous improvement. The provider had systems in place to monitor the quality of the service and had a process in place, which ensured people could raise any complaints or concerns.

People knew what to do if they had a concern, complaints were investigated, and lessons learnt to reduce future concerns.

The service notified the Care Quality Commission of certain events and incidents, as required.

The inspection took place on 1 December 2015 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice of the inspection was given because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure that the registered manager would be available to speak with.

The service provided personal care to adults with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder living in their own homes. At the time of inspection there were 64 people using the service. Of those, 54 people received a service that included regulated activities. Of these 54 people, 10 people lived in a supported living setting with support provided by the service.

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.

People told us that they felt safe when staff supported them.

When people started to use the service a care plan was developed that included information about their support needs, likes, dislikes, history and preferences. This meant that staff had the relevant information to meet people’s needs.

Risk assessments were in place which set out how to support people in a safe manner. The service had safeguarding and whistleblowing procedures in place. Staff were aware of their responsibilities in these areas.

Care workers were supported through training and supervision to be able to meet the care needs of people they supported. They undertook an induction programme when they started work at the service.

Staff told us that sought people’s consent prior to providing their care. Where people were believed to not have the capacity to make specific decisions, assessments of their mental capacity to make decisions had been carried out in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Staff developed caring relationships with people and understood people’s needs and preferences.

People were involved in decisions about their support. They told us that staff treated them with respect.

People received support that was centred on them as individuals. They were involved in writing their care plans.

People were supported to develop independent living skills.

People and staff felt the service was well managed. The service was well organised and led by a registered manager who understood their responsibilities under the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009.

The provider carried out formal monitoring of the quality of the service and developed plans to drive improvement.