The inspection took place on 11 September 2018 and was unannounced. Buntingford is a supported living service for up to four people who live with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorders. At the time of our inspection three people were using the service.

This service provides care and support to people living in a supported living setting, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support an overall rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing 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.

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.

There were systems and processes in place to protect people from the risk of harm. People and staff were knowledgeable about how to report their concerns and how to keep safe from harm. Employment processes were robust and ensured that staff working at the service were suitable to carry out their roles.

Staff received training and felt supported to deliver care and support to people in a safe and effective way. People`s medicines were managed safely by trained staff.

People told us staff were kind and caring and their dignity was protected. People had been involved in planning and reviewing their care and support by staff who used pictorial documents where it was needed to aid people`s understanding. The registered manager identified that the way people were given information could be further improved and they were working to develop this area.

Care plan were personalised and descriptive of how people liked to be supported by staff. People`s independence was promoted and staff encouraged people to express their choices and live the life they wanted.

People had been enabled to pursue their hobbies and interest. They were involved in planning their activities and the registered manager was working to further develop and broaden the opportunities people had in regard to going on holidays and other activities.

People were supported to access health services including their GP, dental appointments and other healthcare professionals as required. People`s feedback on the service was encouraged through regular meetings and surveys.

The provider`s governance systems were used effectively by the registered manager to identify where improvements were needed. Actions from audits were completed promptly in most cases, however we saw that on occasions there was a delay in completing actions.

The inspection took place on 06 November 2015 and was unannounced. Buntingford is a supported living service for up to four people who live with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorders. At the time of our inspection four people were using the service.

There was a manager in post who had registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

At the time of the inspection we found that one person may have been Deprived of their Liberty and the appropriate application had been submitted to the Court of Protection by the manager to ensure this was being done lawfully. People can only be deprived of their liberty to receive care and treatment when this is in their best interests and legally authorised under the MCA.

People’s needs had been assessed, and personalised support plans detailed people’s individual needs, preferences, and choices. There were risks assessments in place for all aspects of the person’s daily living and risks were appropriately mitigated.

There were processes in place to safeguard people from the risk of avoidable harm and staff were knowledgeable about safeguarding procedures. They had a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities and had clear lines of accountability. The manager was in the process of recruiting three staff in permanent positions to ensure continuity for people.

Staff obtained people’s consent and this was recorded in their support plans and regularly reviewed. People told us that staff gave them appropriate choices prior to care being provided.

Staff received training relevant to their roles and responsibilities. There were regular support arrangements in place and staff had regular supervisions.

Staff were kind and respectful to the people they supported. People were encouraged and supported to pursue interests and hobbies. People were supported to access health services including their GP, dental appointments and other healthcare professional as required.

The provider encouraged feedback from people and used their feedback to improve the service. They were in the process of sending surveys out to people, staff, relatives and health care professionals.

The provider had introduced an effective quality monitoring audit which was used to check the service in line with the methodology used by the Care Quality Commission.