The inspection took place on 01 November 2017 and was announced. We announced the inspection 24 hours in advance as the service provides care in people’s homes and we needed to ensure someone could meet us at the office. This was the first comprehensive inspection of the service since its current registration which was dated August 2017.

Salisbury Support Services is a domiciliary care agency located in Bognor Regis, West Sussex. The agency provides personal care to people with a learning disability and/or physical disability and supports people to live independently in their own homes. The service provides care and support to people living in three ‘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. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support. The main office is situated in the centre of Bognor Regis.

The service provides a person centred approach to care for people with learning disabilities. The service supports some people on a 24 hour basis and others who may require support with personal care needs at specific times of the day and/or night. At the time of the inspection 13 people were receiving support with their personal care needs. The person we visited could not communicate their views to us. We observed how staff supported the person and spoke with them.

There was 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.

Staff were recruited safely and trained to meet people’s individual needs. Wherever possible people were only supported by staff known to them and trained to meet their needs. There were enough staff assigned to provide support and ensure that people's needs were met.

Staff were aware of the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act [2005] and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards [DoLS] which meant they were working within the law to support people who may lack capacity who may need to be referred under the court of protection scheme through the local authority.

People had a care plan that provided staff with direction and guidance about how to meet individual needs and wishes. These care plans were regularly reviewed and any changes in people’s needs were communicated to staff.

Comprehensive assessments were carried out to identify any risks or potential risks to the person using the service and to the staff supporting them. This included any environmental risks in people’s homes, risks in the community and any risks in relation to the care and support needs of the person.

People’s needs were met where staff were responsible for supporting medicine administration and ensuring people had enough to eat and drink. Clear records were kept and issues followed up on.

People received support from staff who they knew and who had the skills and knowledge to provide their care.

People were supported to live a full and active life, offered choice and staff had safeguards in place to support people to experience outings and for activities to go ahead.

People knew how to raise concerns and make complaints. People had details of how to raise a complaint and told us they would be happy to make a complaint if they needed to. We looked at records that demonstrated the complaints procedure had been followed.

There was a management structure within the service which provided clear lines of responsibility and accountability. There was a positive culture within the service and the management team provided strong leadership and led by example. Staff said “I feel well supported by the company” and “We are a