This announced inspection took place on 5 December 2017. Sanctuary Supported Living - Epworth House provides supported living for up to thirteen people in their own home. There were communal areas and a shared garden. Only one person was receiving a service under their registration presently. This was the provider’s first inspection under this registration.

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.’

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People were involved in planning their own care and reviewing it regularly. Staff communicated with people in a way which enabled them to express their choices and maintain their independence. Their privacy and dignity was respected and upheld by the staff who supported them.

Risk was assessed and plans were in place to monitor people’s health and to assist them in a safe manner. There were systems in place to monitor and drive improvement, including lessons learnt when things go wrong.

Staff had caring relationships with the people they supported and encouraged them to raise any concerns that they had; and there was a complaints procedure in place but people said that they had not needed to use it.

There were enough staff to meet people’s needs and they were supported and trained to ensure that they had the skills to support people effectively. There were safe recruitment procedures in place to ensure that they were safe to work with people. They were trained in safeguarding and understood how to protect people from harm. They also assisted people to understand how to keep themselves safe. People were also encouraged to contribute to the development of the service.