United Response Derby City DCA 1 is a domiciliary care agency that provides personal care to adults with a learning disability living in their own homes. Some people lived alone and others with one or two other people that were also receiving a service from United Response Derby City DCA 1. Not everyone using the service received a 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.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. The aim of the guidance is to assist services in enabling people with learning disabilities and autism using the service to live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

We inspected this service on 9 and 16 August 2018. This inspection was announced. This meant the provider and staff knew we would be visiting the service’s office before we arrived on the 9 August. There were 11 people in receipt of personal care support at the time of this inspection visit. We visited the office on the 9 August and spoke with the registered manager, team leader and a member of the care staff team. We then visited seven people in their homes on the 16 August. Due to their needs some people were unable to talk with us about the support they received. To enable us to understand the experiences of people, we observed the support provided to people and how the staff interacted with them. We also spoke with the eight staff members who were supporting them.

The service had 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.

This was the first inspection since the provider registered at this location on 10 May 2017.

People were supported to keep safe and by staff who were clear on their role in protecting them from the risk of harm. Staff understood how to raise concerns and record safety incidents. Risks to people were managed to reduce potential hazards and people were supported to take reasonable risks to promote their independence.

People were protected against the risk of abuse, as checks were made to confirm staff were of good character. Enough staff were available to support people. Where people required support to take their medicines; this was provided in a safe way.

People were supported by staff that had the knowledge they needed to provide effective care and support was delivered in line with good practice guidance. A period of transition was provided to support people when they began to use the service, to ensure they received support that met their needs and preferences. People’s physical health was monitored and they were supported to access healthcare services. People’s dietary needs and preferences were met.

People were consulted regarding their preferences and interests and these were incorporated into their support plan to ensure they were supported to lead the life they wanted to. People were supported to be as independent as they could be and assistive technology and accessible information was in place to support people in achieving this. The support people received was reviewed with them to ensure it remained relevant. People knew how to raise any concerns or complaints, and these were responded to in a timely manner.

Staff had a good understanding of people’s communication methods which enabled them to communicate effectively with them. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the l