This inspection took place on 13 and 20 August 2018. We announced the inspection in advance because the service is small and we wanted to be sure the manager would be available to facilitate the inspection. this was the services first inspection since registering with CQC in July 2017.

Thompson Equestrian Centre provides personal care and support to people living in their own homes in the community. They also provide care and support to people staying in the holiday chalets, on the site of the equestrian centre, for respite. Some people who stayed in the holiday chalets were supported by their own staff but if required the service could arrange to provide care and support to people who came on holiday. At the time of our inspection the service supported six people living in their own homes and 12 people who were using the respite service.

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 service had effective systems in place to protect people from the risk of harm and abuse. Staff were knowledgeable about how to recognise and respond to concerns. We could see the service had been thorough in investigating and following up all concerns raised.

Staff had been recruited safely, all the necessary checks had been completed to ensure staff were suitable to work with vulnerable people.

Staff were identified to work with people based on the persons specific needs and preferences. We saw how this matching process had significantly improved the quality of people's lives and reduced some of the risks associated with supporting people who might have behaviours that were challenging.

New staff received a comprehensive induction programme and regular training. Specific training tailored around individual peoples' needs and preferences had been developed and provided. Relatives we spoke with told us they were confident staff had received effective training and were knowledgeable about individual people.

Where the service was responsible, people had been supported to maintain their health needs and had access to health professionals when needed. The service ensured information about health needs and how to support peoples' communication and decision making had been developed should people need to go to hospital to ensure there were smooth transitions between services.

Relatives of people accessing the service told us they thought the staff were caring. We observed staff were kind and patient when interacting with people and each other. People were supported in ways that maintained their dignity and promoted their choice and control when receiving care and support. People were supported to communicate their needs and wishes, staff took the time to learn how best to do this to optimise people's involvement in decision making.

People received personalised care that was responsive to their needs. Care plans included clear information about how people preferred to be supported. People's needs were reviewed and updated regularly. Both care plans and reviews had been completed with significant input from families and other professionals. Relatives told us they felt fully involved and able to raise anything at any time about their relatives' care.

There was a broad range of activities available, the holiday chalets were on the site of the equestrian centre which had large grounds and opportunities to get involved with feeding the animals and collecting eggs. Day services were also separately available on site. People using the holiday chalets had support to engage in activities of their choosing, including shopping, going to the cinema, pubs and day trips. People living in their own homes had been supported to arr