This inspection took place on 31 January 2017 and was announced.

Purley Park Trust (DCA) offers a supported living service to people with learning difficulties which impact on their ability to live independently. The service assists people to live in their own homes with their own tenancies. It aims to support and encourage people to become as independent as possible, with only as much intervention from care staff as is necessary. The service, currently, supports 11 people in six premises. Homes accommodate from one to three people.

The service is required to have a registered manager. 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 is a registered manager running the service.

The service understood how to keep people, staff and others safe. People were protected by staff who had received the appropriate training and knew how to recognise and deal with any form of abuse or risk of harm. Staff had been recruited as safely as possible and were suitable to provide people with safe care. People were supported, by trained staff, to take their medicines safely, if necessary. All significant risks were identified and managed to keep people and staff as safe as possible.

People’s rights were protected by staff who understood the Mental Capacity Act (2005). The Mental Capacity Act 2005 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 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 were provided with highly person centred care. Individual’s specific needs were met by a well-trained, committed staff team who supported people to maintain and gain as much independence as possible. Staff made sure people’s confidence was built and they felt involved and valued. People’s diversity was recognised and they were treated with respect and dignity at all times.

People were supported to be part of the community and experience a wide range of activities, including being supported to obtain and attend work placements.

The service was effectively managed by a registered manager and management team who were described as approachable, open and supportive. They continually monitored and assessed the quality of care they offered. Any shortfalls or improvements needed were identified and acted upon.