a-2-e is a domiciliary and supported living service providing personal care to vulnerable adults in their own home or local community. The service’s main office is located in the village of Edwinstowe and provides level access.

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

People continued to receive safe, least restrictive care and support. The provider’s staffing and risk management arrangements for people’s care, helped to ensure this. People were consistently supported by staff, to manage their behaviour and take their medicines safely when required.

People continued to receive effective care from staff who were trained and supported to help ensure this. People were supported to access external health professionals when they needed to. Staff followed their instructions for people’s care and any related personal care plans, to enable people to maintain or improve their health when needed. 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 continued to receive care from staff who were kind and caring. Staff knew people well and supported them to maintain their relationships with family and friends. People’s received care in a way that consistently helped to ensure their dignity and rights. Staff understood and followed what was important to people for their care and individual choices, daily living routines and lifestyle preferences.

People continued to receive timely, individualised care, which was agreed and regularly reviewed with them or their representatives when required. Staff knew how to communicate with people in the way they understood. People were supported to engage in community life and to participate in activities they enjoyed. This was done in a way which helped to promote people’s inclusion and independence. People were informed and supported to raise any concerns or to make a complaint about their care if they needed to. The provider listened and acted on what people said to help determine and make care improvements when required.

The service continued to be well led. The provider continually operated comprehensive management, communication and staff support measures to ensure the quality and safety of people’s care. Staff understood and followed their role and responsibilities, which helped to ensure people received safe and effective care. Records relating to care provision and the management of the service were accurately maintained and securely stored. The provider continuously sought to improve the service against nationally recognised guidance and practice standards concerned with people’s care.

Further information is in the detailed findings below

This announced inspection was carried out on 1 February 2016. The office is situated in the village of Edwinstowe in Nottinghamshire and the service provides personal care to adults living in their own home.

The service had a registered manager in place at the time of our 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 were supported by staff who knew the risks people could face and how to make people feel safe. People were encouraged and supported to live as independently as possible with the risks that entailed reduced through effective risk assessment.

People were supported by a consistent group of staff who had the skills they needed to meet people’s needs and individual circumstances. People received any support they required to take their prescribed medicines safely when they needed to.

People were provided with the care and support they wanted by staff who were trained and supported to do so. People’s human right to make decisions for themselves was respected and they provided their consent when needed.

People were supported to eat and drink to promote their wellbeing, and staff supported their healthcare needs where needed.

People were treated with respect and individuality by staff who demonstrated compassion and understanding. People were able to express their views on their care and were treated as they wished to be in a respectful manner.

People were able to influence the way their care and support was delivered and they could rely on this being provided in the way they wished it to be. People were encouraged to express any issues of concerns they had so these could be acted upon.

People who used the service and staff were able to express their views about the service. There was a motivated staff team who felt supported by the management of the service.

Prior to our visit we reviewed all the information we had received from the provider. During the inspection we spoke with two care workers, the quality manager and the registered manager. We also looked at some of the records held in the service including the care files for people who used the service. We provided an opportunity for people who used the service to speak with us but no one chose to do so.

We found the service was well organised to ensure the people they supported received the care and support they required to meet their needs. We found the provider assessed and monitored the quality of the service.

People who used the service were not available to speak with us during our visit to the service so we used a number of different methods to help us understand their experiences.

We spoke with two support workers, the training and development manager and the registered manager. We also looked at some of the records held in the service including information about the care for one person.