This inspection took place on the 26 and 27 September 2018. This was the first comprehensive inspection of ‘Specialist Support Services for younger adults with disabilities North’ at their Corby location since the registered provider details changed to Northamptonshire County Council.

This service provides a domiciliary care support service to people living within their own homes in the community in Corby and surrounding area. There were 60 people receiving support with personal care when we inspected.

A registered manager was in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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 were sufficient numbers of staff to provide people with the support that had been agreed with them. Staff recruitment procedures ensured that appropriate checks were completed to ensure only suitable staff worked at the service.

People’s needs had been assessed prior to their service being agreed. There were plans of care in place that been developed to guide staff in providing care in partnership with people who used the service. Staff were responsive to people’s changing needs. They could demonstrate that they understood what was required of them to provide people with the care they needed to remain living independently at home. Care records contained risk assessments and risk management plans. These provided staff with the guidance and information they needed on how to minimise risks when they provided care and support.

Staff had a good understanding of what safeguarding meant and the procedures for reporting abuse. The staff we spoke with were confident that any concerns they raised would be followed up appropriately by the registered manager or other senior staff.

People were happy with the way that staff provided their care and support. They said they were listened to, their views were acknowledged and acted upon and their care and support was delivered in accordance with their assessed needs and their preferences for how they wished to receive their care. They were supported by staff that had access to the support, supervision, and training they needed to work effectively in their roles. There was good leadership regarding day-to-day and longer-term management of the service.

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 place at the service supported this practice. People's consent was sought before any care was provided and the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 were met.

People benefitted from a service that was appropriately managed so that they received their service in a timely and reliable way. They received care from staff that were friendly, compassionate, kind and caring. Staff had received the right training to do their job and were knowledgeable about the needs of the people they supported in the community. There were procedures in place to guide staff when supporting people to take their medicines. Staff were trained in infection control, and supplied with appropriate personal protective equipment, such as disposable gloves and aprons, to perform their roles safely.

There was an effective system of quality assurance in place which ensured people consistently received a good standard of care and support. The provider worked in partnership with other stakeholders to ensure that where improvements were needed action was taken. Communication was open and honest, and any improvements identified were worked upon as required.

Arrangements were in place for the service to reflect and learn from complaints and incidents to improve safety across the service.