This announced inspection took place over two days on 25 and 26 January 2017. At the time of our inspection there were 23 people receiving personal care.

There was a registered manager in post 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’s capacity to consent to their care and support was not always assessed. Some people supported by the service were not able to consent to aspects of their care. However, written capacity assessments were not in place. Staff did demonstrate that they understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and gained people’s consent when supporting them.

Recruitment procedures were sufficiently robust to protect people from receiving unsafe care from staff that were unsuitable to work at the service. Staffing levels ensured that people received the support they required safely and at the times they needed. People received care from staff who had the appropriate skills and knowledge to meet their needs. All staff had undergone the provider’s induction and the provider had a plan in place for on going training.

People were supported to maintain good health and had access to healthcare services when needed; relevant health care professionals were appropriately involved in people’s care. There were systems in place to manage medicines safely. Staff were trained in the safe administration of medicines and people had care plans relating to the provision of their medicines.

People and their relatives told us that they felt safe when staff visited them in their home. People were protected from harm arising from poor practice or abuse as there were clear safeguarding procedures in place for care staff to follow if they were concerned about people’s safety. Staff understood the need to protect people from harm and knew what action they should take if they had any concerns.

People received care from staff that were kind and friendly. People had meaningful interactions with staff and looked forward to seeing the staff. People received care at their own pace and were treated with dignity and respect.

Care records contained individual risk assessments and risk management plans to protect people from identified risks and help to keep them safe. Care plans were written in a person centred approach and detailed how people wished to be supported and where possible people were involved in making decisions about their care.

The registered manager had values and a clear vision that was person centred and focussed on enabling people to have their needs and preferences met in the way that they chose. All staff demonstrated a commitment to providing a service for people that met their individual needs.