Pathway for Care is a service that provides personal care for adults who have a learning disability, physical disability or mental health conditions living in supported living. The service has been registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) since February 2017. Four people lived at the supported living location but not everyone received the regulated activity of personal care. At the time of our announced inspection on 19 July 2018, the service was providing personal care to one person. This was the first inspection of this service. This service provides care and support to people living in one ‘supported living’ setting, so that they can live 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.

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 in post. 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 registered manager assisted us with our inspection.

People’s rights were protected in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People’s medicines were stored securely.

People‘s care and support was planned in partnership with them and they had opportunity to take part in activities that reflected their interests. People were supported by sufficient numbers of staff to meet their needs and keep them safe. Staff understood their responsibilities in safeguarding people from abuse and knew how to report any concerns they had. Staff had been recruited through an appropriate recruitment process which helped ensure they would be suitable for the role.

Where people had incidents or accidents these were recorded and lessons were learnt from them. Individual risks to people were identified and guidance and action taken to minimise risks, whilst continuing to allow the person freedom. People were protected by the measures in place to manage infection control.

People could make choices about the food they ate and staff engaged healthcare professionals when people required it. Staff worked with external organisations and professionals to help provide the most effective care to people. People’s needs had been assessed prior to moving in to the service and transitions arrangements were in place to help ensure a safe move.

People were cared for by staff who were kind and caring towards them. Staff treated people with respect and maintained their dignity. People were supported to remain as independent as possible and make choices about their care. There was sufficient information in people’s support plans to enable staff to provide the most appropriate care to people.

People and staff benefited from good leadership provided by the registered manager. Staff said there was a strong team and staff said they received good support from their colleagues. They told us they had received appropriate training for their role. The whole staff team had a drive to continually improve the service. Should someone wish to complain there were appropriate procedures in place.