The inspection took place on 20 March 2017 and was announced. We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice because the service is a small home care agency and the registered manager is often out of the office providing care. We needed to be sure they would be in.

Achieve with Us is a home care agency that supports adults who live with a learning disability, autism or mental health issues. At the time of our inspection one person used the service. The service also runs activity centres at five locations in the Hinckley area. These are used by people receiving home care, but they are outside the scope of the Care Quality Commission's regulatory powers.

The provider had procedures for supporting people to be safe. The person using the service was supported by staff that were knowledgeable about their needs. Staff consistently supported the person to lead the life they wanted and to achieve their objectives. The provider’s recruitment procedures ensured only staff with the required competences and values were employed.

The provider assessed the risks associated with activities the person wanted to participate in. The person was not discouraged from activities that carried a risk. They were supported to manage risks in order to achieve what was important to them.

Staff were trained in the safe management of medicines should the need arise for them to support people to take their medicines.

Staff had training and support to ensure that they understood the needs of people who used the service. They put their training into practice and consistently provided care that met the person’s needs. The person experienced care and support that improved the quality of their life and taught them new and exciting skills.

The registered manager understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2015. They had awareness of the MCA and understood they could provide care and support only if a person consented to it and if the proper safeguards were put in place to protect their rights.

Staff advised the person about healthy eating. They also supported them to access health services when they needed them.

Staff were caring and knowledgeable about the person’s needs. They were consistently supported by the same staff which was important to them and their relative.

Staff communicated effectively with the person and involved them in decisions about their care and support. This resulted in them consistently experiencing care that met their needs.

The provider actively promoted values of compassion and kindness in the service.

The person contributed to the assessment of their needs and to reviews of their care plans. Their care plan was focused on their needs and objectives they wanted to achieve. Staff supported them to maintain their interests and hobbies and to learn new skills. This supported people to be active participants in their community.

The person and their relative knew how to raise concerns if they felt they had to and they were confident they would be taken seriously by the provider.

The provider had effective arrangements for monitoring the quality of the service. These arrangements placed a high value to people’s feedback which was acted upon. The quality assurance procedures were used to continually improve the service.

The service was well known and highly regarded in the local community through its work at the activity centres and its involvement in raising awareness of the challenges faced by people living with learning disabilities.