This was the first inspection of the service since the provider registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in July 2017. This inspection took place on 10 and 17 July 2018 and was announced. We gave the provider 48 hours' notice of the inspection visit because the registered manager could be out of the office supporting staff or providing care. We needed to be sure that they would be available.

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community. The agency provides a service to adults with physical disabilities and older people, including people living with dementia. The agency also had a contract to provide people with additional support on discharge from hospital. Not everyone using BeeAktive Care Limited 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. At the time of our inspection 20 people were provided with personal care by the agency.

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 provider completed recruitment checks on staff but these needed to be more robust to help ensure that the right people were employed to provide care for people. This meant there was a lack of management oversight with staff recruitment as the provider had not identified the shortfalls we found at this inspection. The registered manager sent us an action plan after the inspection which showed they had taken appropriate steps to improve this.

There were enough staff and people felt safe with the staff who supported them. Staff knew how to recognise and report any concerns they had about people’s care and welfare and how to protect them from abuse. Risks were identified and managed effectively to protect people from avoidable harm.

People were fully involved in making decisions about their own care and received a comprehensive assessment before they started using the service. Assessments considered whether people had any needs in relation to their disability, sexuality, religion or culture and these were incorporated into care plans if required.

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.

The support provided was person-centred and flexible, taking into account peoples’ preferences and individual circumstances. People’s care needs were regularly reviewed and their care plans updated to reflect any changed needs.

People were supported by regular staff who were appropriately trained and supervised. Management observed how staff cared for people in their home to ensure their practice was safe and people received the support they needed.

People told us they were always treated with dignity and respect. The service had received many written compliments that praised the staff and management team for the quality of the care provided for people.

Staff supported people to maintain and develop their independence and follow their interests and hobbies.

People were supported with their dietary and health needs. Staff took prompt action when people became unwell or were at risk from poor nutrition. They consulted other healthcare professionals to ensure that people received the additional support they needed. Medicines were managed safely and people had their medicines at the times they needed them.

The service was well managed. The registered manager was supported in their role by a dep