We carried out this unannounced inspection on the 12 and 14 June 2018.

This service provides care and support to people living in two ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live 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 service also provides support to people who lived in self-contained flats. This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community and specialist housing.

Not everyone using Sanctuary Supported Living (98 Old Milton Road) receives regulated activity; 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. At the time of our inspection the service was providing care and support for eleven people with a variety of care needs, including people living with learning disabilities or who have autism spectrum disorder.

The service had 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.

We received positive feedback from people about the service. All people who used the service expressed great satisfaction and spoke highly of the care staff.

People felt safe with the service provided by Sanctuary Supported Living (98 Old Milton Road) and risks to people were minimized through risk assessments. There were plans in place for foreseeable emergencies.

Relevant recruitment checks were conducted before staff started working at the service to make sure they were of good character and had the necessary skills. Staff had received training in safeguarding adults and knew how to identify, prevent and report abuse. There were enough staff to keep people safe.

People were supported to take their medicines safely from suitably trained staff. Medication administration records (MAR) confirmed people had received their medicines as prescribed.

People received varied meals including a choice of fresh food and drinks. Staff were aware of people’s likes and dislikes and went out of their way to provide people with what they wanted.

Staff received regular support and one to one sessions or supervision to discuss areas of development. They completed a wide range of training and felt it supported them in their job role.

People were cared for with kindness and compassion. Care plans provided comprehensive information about how people wished to receive care and support. This helped ensure people received personalised care in a way that met their individual needs.

People were supported and encouraged to make choices and had access to a range of activities. Staff knew what was important to people and encouraged them to be as independent as possible.

A complaints procedure was in place. There were appropriate management arrangements in place. Regular audits of the service were carried out to assess and monitor the quality of the service.

The inspection took place on 14 March 2016. It was unannounced. We returned on 16 March 2016 to complete the inspection. The inspection was carried out by one inspector. This was the first inspection of the service since it was registered in July 2014.

Sanctuary Supported Living (98 Old Milton Road) is registered to provide accommodation, care and support for up to five people with a learning disability. At the time of our visits four people were living at 98 Milton Road and they had lived there for a number of years. Sanctuary Supported Living (98 Old Milton Road) is also registered to provide personal care to people in their own homes. At the time of our inspection staff were providing personal care to people living in flats in the same location as the registered care service and at one other house in the area. Eight people received a regular personal care service . People living at the flats and other locations could choose if they wanted the personal care support from Sanctuary Supported Care or another agency although they all chose to be supported by staff employed by Sanctuary Supported Care. They were happy with this arrangement.

There was a registered manager in post. They had been in post for a number of years They demonstrated a dedication for their job and knew every person’s support needs very well . 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.

We found the service was complying with legislation and was providing safe, effective, caring and responsive care and support to a consistently good standard.

People were safely cared for because they were supported by sufficient numbers of suitably skilled staff who knew them well. Staff communicated with people clearly and effectively which helped to ensure people's care and support needs and wishes were very well understood and fulfilled.

Staff liaised effectively with health care professionals to make sure people's health needs were addressed and they remained in the best health possible.

There was a friendly atmosphere in the residential care home and staff in both the care home and in the supported living scheme treated people with kindness and sensitivity and respected their privacy.

People were encouraged and supported to be as independent as possible and to be involved in community life.

The service was well led with a clear management structure and with good systems in place to monitor quality.