This inspection took place over three days on 10, 14 and 15 August 2017. This inspection was announced to ensure that key staff would be available to talk with.

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.

Pendle Support Limited is registered to provide personal care and support to adults and children with learning disabilities and associated mental health issues. The agency is located in the town of Colne and provides a community service within the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale area.

This was the first inspection for Pendle Support Limited as the service had become a limited company and re-registered with the Care Quality Commission on 23 July 2016. Prior to this the service was registered as Pendle Care and Support Services as a partnership and had been providing services in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale since 2005. Our last report for the previously registered service was in February 2014 and the service was judged to be fully compliant under the previous regulations. At the time of our inspection 28 people were being supported by the agency.

Without exception people told us that they felt safe when receiving care and support from staff. Staff we spoke with knew how to recognise and report potential safeguarding issues and they received appropriate training in this area which was up to date.

There was a robust and detailed recruitment programme in place that helped to ensure people received high standards of care from a highly skilled staff team. People who used the service were given the opportunity to become involved within the recruitment process. Staffing levels were sufficient to ensure people received high standards of care that enhanced their welfare, safety and day to day living.

Thorough risk assessments were in place to protect people from risks but also enabled them to take positive risks. We saw that people and families were involved within this process to enable them to understand why they were in place. Risk assessments were person centred and up to date.

People we spoke with had no concerns with how staff helped them to take their medication. An up to date medication policy was in place that staff were aware of. Staff knew their responsibilities in this area and were trained to administer people’s medicines.

Staff received an induction when they first started work at the service. Staff were trained, supervised and received an annual appraisal of their performance. Staff told us they felt supported in their role and were given the appropriate training and guidance to carry out their duties effectively.

Staff and the management demonstrated a good understanding of the principles of the MCA and DoLS and how it related to peoples care needs. Up to date and detailed policies and procedures for MCA and DoLS were available to all of the staff and provided them with clear guidance.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.

Support and care plans reflected people’s assessed support needs well and showed that people were encouraged to do as much for themselves as possible. Care plans also reflected the fact that people were involved in the care planning and review process. Care plans were very person centred, up to date and contained in-depth information and guidance for staff. Staff we spoke with found plans to be useful in assisting them to provided care and support for people.

People we spoke with told us they were happy with the care and support they received and that staff were caring and considerate. Nobody we s