This comprehensive inspection took place on 31 October and 1 November 2016 and was announced. The inspection was conducted by an adult social care inspector. At the time of our inspection there were 41 people who were using the service.

At the last inspection on 30 August 2013 we found the service to be compliant with all regulations we assessed at that time.The Frances Taylor Foundation is part of the UK charity, the Poor Servants of the Mother of God. Liverpool Adult Services is a supported living service providing community care and support to people with a learning difficulty mainly in the Liverpool area.

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.

Records showed that 100% of staff had completed training in safeguarding adults and people told us they felt safe receiving support from the service. Staff were able to clearly tell us what they would do if they suspected someone was being abused.

Each person who used the service had a ‘working file,’ a ‘medicines file,’ and a ‘financial file.’

We found that the risks to people's safety had been assessed using a variety of risk assessments which were completed before and when people started to use the service and these were updated if their needs changed.

There was an accidents/incidents file in use for recording any accidents or incidents. Audits of accidents and incidents undertaken at each house.

Care staff we spoke with were experienced and knew how to respond in an emergency or when to offer assistance for a person's well-being.

There were sufficient staff to carry out the various roles within the service and each house held copies of the rota for the individual location address.

We looked at five staff personnel files and there was evidence of robust recruitment procedures in place.

Suitable arrangements were in place to ensure that people who used the service were safe. There was an appropriate and up to date medicines administration policy in use.There was a medicines competency check file in place and we saw that staff competence to administer medicines was regularly undertaken each month on a rolling basis.

There was a health and safety policy in place which gave guidance on infection prevention and control at each house we visited. All care staff had received training in infection control which we verified by checking records.

The service had a business continuity plan that detailed the action to be taken in the event of an unforeseen circumstance such as loss of utilities supplies, loss of IT/telephony, pandemic flu, adverse weather, lack of public transport, fire and flood.

People we spoke with confirmed that the care workers and other staff they met were competent. There was a comprehensive staff induction programme in place which was carried out over three days.

Staff we spoke with all told us they received an induction and on-going training in order to ensure they had the necessary skills to meet people's individual needs.

Staff told us they felt they had received sufficient training to undertake their role competently.

Staff received supervision and appraisal from their manager, and the service kept a record of all staff supervisions that had previously taken place.

Staff demonstrated a good understanding of MCA/DoLS and told us about when they felt a DoLS authorisation might be required. All staff had completed training in MCA/DoLS as part of the process of induction and through subsequent training.

Before any care and support was given the service obtained consent from the person who used the service or their representative and each section of people’s care files had been signed accordingly.

Each person

We judged that people had received the care, support and treatment they required to meet their needs. People were well supported with their personal and health care needs. People's needs were clearly reflected in their support plan and staff presented as having a good understanding of people's needs. During our visit we observed that staff interacted with people who use the service in a warm, respectful manner.

Information held within the records we reviewed demonstrated that robust systems were in place to ensure people's health, quality of life and finances were managed in a safe way. Records seen indicated that the practices in place safeguarded the people who use the service.

New staff only started work after they had gone through appropriate pre-employment checks. These aimed to ensure people were supported by staff who had the appropriate skills and qualities they needed to carry out their roles. During our visit we saw evidence that confirmed records relating to the care, staffing and management of the service were accurate, up to date, reviewed regularly and fit for purpose.