Essex road provide supported living services including personal care and support to people with a learning disability, autistic spectrum disorder or a mental health condition. 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. Currently the service provides support to eight people.

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.

This was the first inspection of the service that was registered in May 2017.The service had 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.

There was good overall feedback about the service, from people using it and their relatives. We found people were treated with kindness and compassion, and that they were given emotional support when needed. The service ensured people's privacy and dignity was respected and promoted.

People’s needs were identified and responded to well. The service was effective at working in co-operation with other organisations to deliver good care and support. This included where people’s needs had changed, and where people needed ongoing healthcare support.

The support staff we spoke with demonstrated a good knowledge of people’s care needs, significant people and events in their lives, and their daily routines and preferences. They also understood the provider’s safeguarding procedures and could explain how they would protect people if they had any concerns.

Staff told us they enjoyed working in the service and told us that the culture and management of the service had improved since the new registered manager had started in January 2018. Staff told us that they were encouraged to openly discuss any issues

Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people’s needs during the day. However, we found that at night there was only one staff member and staff told us this was not sufficient to meet the number of people with complex needs. Care records confirmed this was the case. Staffing support was determined by the local authority and immediately following our inspection the provider has formally requested an increase of an additional staff member to cover the night shift and we saw evidence to confirm that this had been agreed.

Recruitment practices were safe and relevant checks had been completed before staff worked at the home. People’s medicines were managed appropriately so they received them safely.

The service was meeting the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). 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.

People participated in a range of social activities and were supported to access the local community.

The registered manager and staff ensured everyone was supported to maintain good health.

Staff were well supported with training and supervision which helped them to ensure they provided effective care for people.

People and those important to them, such as their relatives or professionals were asked for feedback about the quality of the service.

The provider had a complaints policy in place and the registered manager and staff knew what they should do if anyone made a complaint.

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