This inspection took place on the 5 and 6 September 2017 and was announced.

Charnat Support services provides personal care and support to people with learning and physical disabilities who live independently in the community. Seven people used the service at the time of our inspection.

The previous registered manager left the service in March 2015. The service is currently being managed by a manager with the support of an assistant manager. The manager had submitted an application to register as the registered manager. We were advised during our inspection that the manager has resigned from his role and therefore this application will not be completed. The provider appointed a new manager following our inspection and they have commenced the process to register with the Care Quality Commission.

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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

At our last inspection of this service in June 2016 we found the provider was meeting the regulations of the Health and Social Care Act 2008. However we did identify some areas that required improvement in relation to the service not working in accordance with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (2005). Staff had not received training in relation to this legislation and other refresher training relevant for their role and they did not receive regular supervision. We also found that audits were not being consistently completed to assess and monitor the quality of the service provided.

On this inspection we found the provider had made all of the required improvements since our last inspection.

People were supported by sufficient numbers of staff who had undergone recruitment checks to ensure they were safe to work. Staff understood how to report concerns on abuse and manage risks to keep people safe. People were supported with their medication by staff who had received training in how to do this.

Staff had access to training and supervision to support them in their role. Staff understood the importance of seeking consent in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and knew how to support people to make their own decisions. Staff monitored the health and wellbeing of people and knew the action to take if someone became unwell.

People and relatives described staff as kind and caring, and confirmed staff treated people with dignity and respect. People were encouraged to be involved in the planning and review of their care. People felt supported by staff who knew them well. People and relatives knew how to raise any concerns they had about the service.

People, relatives and staff spoke positively about the manager and they told us the service was managed well and in people’s best interests. People and relatives made positive comments about the service people received.

This inspection took place on the 29 and 30 June 2016 and was announced. At our last inspection in October 2013 the service was meeting the regulations of the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Charnat Support services provides personal care and support to people with learning and physical disabilities who live independently in the community. Six people used the service at the time of our inspection.

The previous registered manager left the service in March 2015. The service is currently being managed by two acting managers with the support of an assistant manager. There has been a delay in the provider submitting an application to register a manager for this service. Following our inspection we have received written confirmation that one of the acting managers will submit an application to register as the registered manager.

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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People received a safe service, and procedures were in place to reduce the risk of harm to people. Staff knew how to report and deal with issues regarding people’s safety. People received their medicines as prescribed. Staff were recruited in a safe way which ensured they were of a good character to work with people who used this service.

Although the acting managers understood their responsibilities under the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). We found that applications had not been submitted until after our inspection for people whose liberty was potentially being restricted.

Not all of the staff had received training in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). However staff knew about people’s individual capacity to make decisions and they told us how they gained people’s consent before providing support.

We found that staff had not completed refresher training to ensure their knowledge and skills were up to date. Some staff had not received essential training since their employment. Not all of the staff received regular supervision to support them in their roles.

Staff were described as caring and respectful and staff told us how they maintained people’s privacy and dignity and promoted their independence.

People were supported to go shopping and to eat a healthy diet. Staff told us how people were involved in their support plan and made decisions about their care.

People were supported to maintain good health; we saw that staff alerted health care professionals if they had any concerns about their health. Relatives knew how to raise any issues they had about the service.

Due to the management arrangements in place we found inconsistencies with the way the service was managed and monitored. We found support systems were not in place for all of the staff. We found improvements were required with the records and audits were not always in place to demonstrate how the overall quality of the service was assessed and monitored.

The service is currently supporting four people in the community. We visited one person in their home, and spoke with them about the service they received from this agency. We carried out telephone interviews with 2 representatives in order to obtain feedback about the support that is provided.We also spoke with two support workers and the manager who supported us with the inspection of this agency.

We found that systems were in place to ensure people’s consent was always obtained before any support was provided. One person told us, "Staff always get my permission for everything."

We saw that people’s needs were assessed, and support plans were in place. Staff we spoke with were able to tell us about people’s needs. This ensured people received support in a way they preferred. A representative we spoke with told us, "I think the service meets people needs well."

Systems were in place to ensure people received their medication as required.

We found that procedures were in place to ensure only suitable staff were recruited.

There was a complaints procedure in place to enable people to share their concerns.

The service is currently supporting four people. We were not able to speak with people that use this service due to their support needs. We carried out telephone interviews with one relative, three social workers and three staff. The manager was based at the office and supported us with the inspection of this agency.

A representative spoken with told us they were happy with the support provided by the agency. They said, “The staff are respectful, approachable and provide good support. I am involved in the development of the person’s support plan and the staff keep me informed. Overall I am satisfied”. Another representative told us, “I am impressed and happy with the service provided, they meet the person’s needs and maximise their independence”.

We saw that people’s needs were assessed, and support plans were developed in consultation with people’s representatives. Staff spoken with were able to tell us about people’s needs. This ensures they receive support in a way they prefer.

We found that staff were clear about the action to take should they become aware of an allegation of abuse. This ensures people are safeguarded from harm.

Staff spoken with told us they felt supported by the management team. They confirmed they have regular training opportunities. This ensures staff are able to deliver care to an appropriate standard.

We found that systems were in place for assessing and monitoring the quality of service provided.