This inspection took place on 06 and 07 February and was unannounced.

This is the first inspection we have carried out of Creative Support – Brownley Road (Brownley Road) since it was registered with us in July 2015. Prior to its’ registration in July 2015, Brownley Road formed part of Creative Support’s ‘South Manchester Services’.

This service provides care and support to people living in a ‘supported living’ setting, so that they can live in their own home 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.

The service provided support to people who had a learning disability or who had an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). People using the service lived in one of two houses that were located on the same site. Each house had a staff office and was split into one ground floor four bed flat, and two first floor single bedroom flats. People living in the shared flats had access to communal kitchen, bathroom and lounge areas. The premises are modern and purpose built. In total, the service could accommodate up to 12 people across both houses.

At the time of our inspection the service was providing support to ten people. Not everyone using the service received support with a ‘regulated activity’; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with the regulated activity of ‘personal care’. Personal care includes help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where people are supported with personal care, we also take into account any wider social care provided.

Brownley Road had not been developed and designed entirely in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. The service was providing support in-line with the values outlined in this guidance, including those of choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. However, the physical environment where people were living was not consistent with recommendations for newly developed learning disability services. This was as the setting provided support to a larger number of people living in a small campus style setting. However, the service worked to minimise the impact of the physical setting, and to provide people with person-centred care.

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 service had a number of vacancies for permanent staff, which meant they relied on using agency and ‘bank’ staff to cover gaps in the staff rotas. However, the registered manager had sought to minimise the impact of this. For example, they ensured there were always permanent staff members working alongside temporary staff, and they had processes in place to try and ensure the same temporary staff were used on a rolling basis. Relatives we spoke with told us both they and their family members knew the staff well and had developed positive relationships with them.

Staff assessed risks to people’s health, safety and wellbeing. We saw that where staff had identified potential risks, that they had put in place measures to help reduce the likelihood of that person coming to any harm. However, we found one person’s moving and handling risk assessment and support plans had not been completed in a timely way. Whilst staff were aware of the support this person needed, this would increase the risk that staff may not be aware of how to support this person safely.

We saw staff completed a variety of checks to help ensure people were protected from harm. For example, they checked the fire alarms, escape routes, peop