This inspection took place on 18 September 2018 and was announced. This was the first inspection of the service under the current registration.

The service operates as a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to 18 people living in their own homes in the community. It also provides 24-hour care and support to two people living in 2 ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live in their own home as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support. It provides a service to older adults, younger disabled adults and disabled children.

Not everyone using Radis Community Care Supported Living Reading, receives a regulated activity. The service supports a further 50 people who do not receive personal care. CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided.

A registered manager was in place as required. 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.

People and relatives were happy with the care and support provided by the service. People were safe and told us staff treated them with kindness and respected their dignity and privacy. Where safeguarding issues had arisen, they had been addressed openly by the service and any lessons learned. People and, where appropriate, their representatives, were involved in planning and reviewing their care. Care plans and associated documents were detailed and provided staff with the information they needed to deliver personalised care.

People felt listened to and said the registered manager was accessible and approachable. Where complaints or issues had been raised, they had been addressed. People’s views about the service had been sought via surveys, telephone calls and during spot check visits.

People’s cultural and other diverse needs were identified and supported where appropriate within the support provided. People were enabled to access activities in the community when this was part of their care plan.

The service helped keep people as safe as possible by having a robust system of recruitment checks to ensure as far as possible the suitability of potential staff. People’s medicines were safely managed on their behalf where relevant.

Risks to people and staff were identified through thorough risk assessments and action taken to minimise risk wherever possible. People’s legal rights and freedom were supported by the service.

Staff received thorough induction training using a nationally recognised programme and were provided with regular updates to mandatory training. Additional specialist training was also provided where necessary. Ongoing support was provided to staff via regular one-to-one supervision and annual performance appraisals.

The registered manager maintained effective oversight of the service through various monitoring systems. Regular team meetings helped ensure effective communication with all staff.