This inspection took place on 13 December 2016 and was announced.

Parkside (Aldershot and District Learning Disability) is a charitable organisation which offers a wide variety of support to approximately 200 people with learning disabilities. These services include a day centre, social clubs, fitness groups, well–being groups and a domiciliary care agency. The domiciliary care agency is registered for personal care and currently provides a one to one service to16 people. Thirteen people, many of whom live in residential care homes, receive one to one support with daily activities which is the main focus of the care. They are helped with their personal care needs incidentally and if necessary during the course of the activities. Three people receive support to live in their own homes. This support is focussed on meeting people’s personal care and/or daily living needs.

There is a registered manager running the service. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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 made sure that people, staff and others were as safe as possible whilst using or working in the service. Staff were appropriately trained and followed health and safety and safeguarding procedures. They recognised and managed any risk of harm and were able to identify any form of abuse or poor practice. Robust risk assessments advised staff how to reduce risks, as much as possible. The recruitment procedure checked that staff were safe and suitable to provide people with care.

People were provided with care that met their individual needs, preferences and choices. They were supported and encouraged to make decisions and choices about their care. Staff upheld people’s legal rights with regard to decision making and choice. People’s rights were protected by a management team who understood the Mental Capacity Act (2005). This legislation provides a legal framework that sets out how to act to support people who do not have capacity to make a specific decision.

People’s equality and diversity was respected. People’s diversity was understood and people were treated as individuals. Their care was person centred and reflected any special needs they may have had. People’s privacy and dignity was recognised and promoted by a kind and caring staff team. Staff understood how important it was to maintain people’s privacy and dignity and knew how to do so.

The service and individual staff were highly responsive to people’s needs. The staff team were flexible and their priority was to meet people’s needs, which could change quickly. Staff were able and supported to deal with unplanned care and emergency situations effectively.

The service was well-led by a registered manager who was experienced and well thought of by people and the staff team. Staff were well supported by the management team and their colleagues. The service monitored and assessed the quality of care they offered and made any necessary improvements.