This inspection took place on 24 October 2018. The inspection was announced. We gave the provider 48 hours' notice of our inspection to ensure we could meet with the registered manager. This is the service’s first inspection since their registration.

Stepping Stone Court is a supported living service providing personal care support to people with a mental health condition and younger adults. This service provides care and support to people living in two ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live in their own home 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. At the time of inspection, one person was in receipt of personal care and support.

Due to the limited service being provided at the time of our inspection, we could not answer all the key lines of enquiry (KLOEs) against the regulated activity. We have therefore not been able to award a rating for 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.

The provider had systems in place to help ensure people were safeguarded against harm and abuse. The registered manager understood their responsibility in ensuring people’s safety by minimising risks associated with people's care and support needs, and reporting any safeguarding concerns to the local safeguarding authority and to CQC.

People's needs were assessed before they started using the service to ensure they could be met effectively. People and their relatives were involved in the assessments which were used to develop a care plan. Staff were given sufficient information on how to meet people’s personalised needs. People's care needs were met in accordance with their agreed care plan.

Suitable staff were recruited to meet people’s needs safely. Staff were provided with regular training and supervision to enable them to provide effective care.

The provider encouraged lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to use the service. Staff were trained in equality and diversity.

People were given information about how to raise any concerns or complaints. The provider had quality assurance systems in place to assess, monitor and evaluate the care delivery.