The inspection took place on 14 February 2018 and was announced. We informed the provider 48 hours in advance of our visit that we would be inspecting. This was to ensure there was somebody at the location to facilitate our inspection. The inspection team consisted of one inspector.

The service provides support with personal care to adults living with learning disabilities who either live in their own homes or in a supported living setting. This service is a domiciliary care agency. 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.

At the time of our inspection the service was supporting eight people with personal care. The provision of personal care is regulated by the Care Quality Commission. This was the first inspection of the service which has been registered at the location since January 2017.

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.

There was a registered manager at the service at the time of our inspection. 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.

The service was safe and had practices in place to protect people from harm. Staff had training in safeguarding and knew what to do if they had any concerns and how to report them.

Risk assessments were personalised and detailed. Staff had the information they needed to mitigate risks.

Staffing levels were meeting the needs of people who used the service and arrangements were made to provide cover when there were staff absences.

Recruitment practices were safe and records confirmed this.

The service was not supporting anyone with medicines however, staff had received medicines training.

Systems were in place to prevent the spread of infection in people’s homes; care workers had access to protective clothing and gloves.

The service documented and learned from incidents and put procedures in place for prevention.

Training for support workers was provided on a regular basis and updated regularly. Staff spoke positively about the training they received.

Care workers demonstrated a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and how they obtained consent on a daily basis.

Staff demonstrated a caring and supportive attitude towards people who used the service and their relatives told us they were happy with the care provided.

The service promoted the independence of the people who used the service and people felt respected and treated with dignity.

The service had a complaints procedure and relatives of people who used the service told us they knew how to make a complaint.

The registered manager had a good relationship with staff and people’s relatives. Staff spoke positively about the registered manager and their management style.

The service had robust quality assurance methods in place and carried out regular audits.