Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions provides personal care and support to people who live in ‘supported living’ settings, either in their own self-contained accommodation or in shared accommodation. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. The Care Quality Commission does not regulate the premises for supported living. This inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

At the time of our inspection, 20 people were using the service, of which three people received personal care as a regulated activity. We only looked at the service for people receiving a regulated activity.

At our last inspection in April 2016, we rated the service good. At this inspection, the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

The service embraced the values that underpin the ‘Registering the Right Support’ and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

The service did not have a registered manager. At the time of our inspection, a new manager was in the process of registering with the Care Quality Commission. 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.

The service had strong values and a clear vision to ensure disabled people live with no barriers and have a positive community experience, their aspirations met and have total choice and control over their lives. Staff empowered and enabled people to lead fulfilled and meaningful lives and were committed to providing the best possible service to people.

Safeguarding procedures were in place to protect people from harm and abuse. Individual risks to people had been identified, managed and reviewed. Where required, people were supported to take their prescribed medicines safely. Safe recruitment procedures were in place to ensure staff were suitable and of good character, prior to them starting work. There were sufficient numbers of staff to meet the needs of people using the service, and people received care and support from a consistent team of staff. There were systems in place to monitor incidents and accidents. People were protected from the risk of infection.

Staff received training, support and supervision to enable them to fulfil their role. Where required, people were supported with their dietary needs and with access to healthcare services. 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 the service support this practice.

People received care and support from staff who were kind and caring. People's privacy and dignity was respected and maintained at all times, and their independence promoted. People and their relatives were involved in the planning and review of their care.

People received person centred care and support was focussed on what mattered to them. Staff cared for people in an empathetic and kind manner. People were supported to achieve their goals and participate in activities which were important to them, including accessing the local community, and other services facilitated by the provider. Care plans contained information regarding people's preferences and individual needs and how people wished to be cared for. Care plans were reviewed regularly, or as and when people's needs changed. There were a

This inspection took place on 12 and 14 April 2016.

Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions is registered to provide personal care to people who live in their own home. There were 2 people receiving a service at the time of our inspection. This was the services’ first inspection since their registration.

A registered manager was 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 relating to the management of the service, such as policies and procedures to guide standards, needed improvement as did the systems for checking the safety and quality of the service provided. People knew the registered manager and found them to be approachable and available. People had the opportunity to say how they felt about the service provided. Their views were listened to and actions were taken in response.

People confirmed they felt safe and secure. Staff knew how to identify potential abuse and report concerns both internally and externally. People were supported to take their medicines safely. Potential risks to people’s health and well-being were identified, reviewed and managed effectively to support people to have as much independence as possible while keeping them safe. Flexible arrangements were in place to ensure there were sufficient numbers of suitable staff available at all times to meet people’s individual needs.

The manager understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the associated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Staff obtained people’s consent before providing any support and respected people’s right to make their own decisions.

People were supported to maintain good health and they had access to health and social care professionals when necessary. They were provided with appropriate levels of support to help them choose a healthy balanced diet that met their individual needs and preferences.

People’s dignity and privacy was respected and people found the staff to be friendly and caring. Staff developed positive and caring relationships with the people they supported.

People, and their relatives where appropriate, were fully involved in the planning, delivery and reviews of the support provided. Care records included people’s preferences and individual needs so that staff had clear information on how to give people the support that they needed. People confirmed they received the care they required.