Auckland Care Limited provides personal care and support to people living in a supported living service, who have a mental health condition and/or learning disability. People have tenancy agreements with a separate housing provider. There were six people receiving personal care and/or other support at the time of our inspection.

The inspection was announced and was carried out on 24 August and 7 September 2017 by one inspector.

There was a registered manager in place at the service. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the home. 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 home is run.

People told us staff supported them to stay safe. Staff understood how to identify, report and manage any concerns related to people’s safety and welfare. People were protected from individual risks in a way that supported them and promoted their independence.

Safe recruitment practices were followed and appropriate checks had been undertaken, which made sure only suitable staff were employed to provide care and support for people. There were enough staff deployed to meet people’s assessed needs.

Where required, people received support to manage their prescribed medicines from staff who had received appropriate training.

People were supported by staff who had received an induction and further training, professional development and supervision.

People received support when needed in order to maintain their health and have access to appropriate healthcare services.

The registered manager was aware of legislation designed to protect people’s rights and ensure decisions were the least restrictive and made in their best interests.

People were supported to eat and drink enough and develop and to maintain daily living skills that included budgeting, shopping, meal preparation and maintaining a healthy diet.

Staff developed caring and positive relationships with people and were sensitive to their individual choices and treated them with dignity and respect. People were encouraged and supported to maintain relationships that were important to them.

The service monitored people’s changing needs through regular reviews. People were involved in discussions about their care and support planning and had information about how to make a complaint should they wish to.

Staff told us the registered manager and senior management team were supportive and accessible. There were systems in place to monitor quality and safety of the service.