This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats and specialist housing. Not everyone using Weymouth Office receives regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided. When we visited the service there were 26 adults with learning disabilities and/or mental health needs receiving ‘personal care’.

At our last inspection we rated the service Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and on going monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

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At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

People were supported by staff who understood the risks they faced and how to support them to reduce these. Staff understood how to identify and report abuse and were confident in their role as advocates for people when this was appropriate. Staff supported people to take medicines safely.

People were supported by skilled and caring staff who worked to ensure they lived their life the way they chose. Communication styles and methods were considered and staff supported people to understand the choices available to them.

This meant 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, relatives and professionals told us they could raise any concerns and these were addressed appropriately.

The service had been through a period of sustained uncertainty due to changes in commissioning. This had not impacted the support and care people received. Quality assurance systems involved people and led to a safer and better quality service.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

This announced inspection was the first inspection of this service since it registered with the Care Quality Commission in December 2014. The inspection visits took place on 21 and 25 September 2015 and we spoke with staff and professionals over the following two weeks.

Weymouth office provides personal care to people living in their own individual and shared flats in Weymouth and Dorchester. At the time of our inspection there were 29 people receiving support that included personal care from the service. Most of the people who used the service had a learning disability but the service also supported older people.

The service had a registered manager who was away on holiday at the time of our inspection. They had been the registered manager since the service registered with the Care Quality Commission. Their line manager who was the nominated individual for the provider was available throughout the 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.

People, and relatives, told us they were happy with the care and support they received from the service. Some people did not use words to communicate and were not able to tell us about their experiences. We saw they were relaxed and happy with staff and that staff treated everyone with kindness and respect.

People received support that met their needs and reflected their preferences. Their opinions were sought and reflected in how they received care and how risks they faced were managed. Care was provided in line with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. This meant that people were supported to make as many decisions about their care as they could. When they were unable to make their own decisions these were made in a way that did not involve unnecessary restrictions.

People were protected from harm. They told, and showed us that they felt safe. Staff understood how to identify signs of abuse and knew what their responsibilities were in reporting it.

People were cared for by staff with the right skills and knowledge. Some staff had worked with people before they moved to the service and had transferred from the local authority. These staff felt supported in the changes this had involved. The staff felt they could approach their management and that they were involved in the development of the service.

The support people received was monitored to ensure that any quality issues were addressed.

People and their relatives were listened to and suggestions and complaints were received and acted upon appropriately.