We carried out a comprehensive inspection of Dimensions Somerset Frome Domiciliary Care ¿Office on 26 and 27 June and 11 July 2018. This was the first inspection since the service was ¿registered with us. This was an announced inspection.¿

Dimensions Somerset Frome Domiciliary Care Office is a domiciliary care agency. It provides ¿personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community. It provides a ¿service to older and younger adults who have a learning disability, autism or complex needs. It is ¿operated by Dimensions Somerset Sev Limited, part of a national not for profit organisation ¿providing services for people with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs. ¿

This service provides care and support to 96 people living in 14 'supported living' settings, so they ¿can live in their own home as independently as possible. Many of the people using the service ¿required 24-hour support from staff due to their care needs. People's care and housing are ¿provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for ¿supported living. This inspection only looked at people's personal care and support.¿

The homes people lived in were located in Somerset. Some people lived on their own; some had ¿multiple occupation. Houses in multiple occupation are properties where at least three people in ¿more than one household share toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities. There were offices and ¿sleep-in rooms for staff in some of the homes.¿

Not everyone using Dimensions Somerset Frome Domiciliary Care Office received a regulated ¿activity. CQC only inspects the service where people were provided with personal care. This ¿included support with eating, drinking, medicines and community access.¿

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the ¿Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, ¿promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the ¿service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen. Registering the Right Support CQC policy.¿

There are two registered managers in post. Each is responsible for a number of supported living ¿services. 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. ¿

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We spoke with people who used the service. Some people spoke about their service in some ¿detail. Other discussions with people were limited, so we also used our observations and our ¿discussions with people’s relatives and staff to help form our judgements.

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People and their relatives told us the service promoted people’s welfare and safety. One person ¿said, “Yes, I feel safe; very much so.” Staff understood how to recognise signs of abuse and knew ¿who to report it to. When accidents or incidents occurred, systems were in place to learn from ¿them. ¿

Medicines were managed safely. Risks were well managed which enabled people to retain their ¿independence and receive care with minimum risk to themselves or others.¿

Staff had developed close, trusting relationships with people. One person told us, “Staff are kind, ¿fantastic. I love them.” People and their relatives were happy with the care and support provided ¿by staff. ¿

The provider was currently consulting on a restructure ¿to the organisation. Relatives and staff both spoke about their anxiety if this resulted in changes to the ¿staff team. Both relatives and staff felt this would adversely affect people. Consultations were still ¿ongoing so it was not clear at the time of our inspection if the provider's proposals would be ¿adopted or what the impact may be.¿

Staff were well trained and had the skills an