The inspection took place on 7 and 9 February 2018 and was announced on both days. We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice because the service supports a small number of people and we needed to ensure people and staff were available to carry out the inspection.

United Response- Leeds-Harrogate DCA provides care and support to people living in five ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. The Care Quality Commission does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support. Eight people were using the service when we inspected.

The care 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. People with a learning disability and/or autism using the service can live as ordinary life as any citizen.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good. At this inspection, we found the service remained Good.

There was a manager in post who had registered with CQC.

Systems in place minimised the risk of harm to people. These included effective risk assessment of people’s needs, management of medicines, safe recruitment and effective management of accidents and incidents. The environment was well maintained and the provider had ensured all appropriate safety checks had been made.

There were enough staff on duty to meet people’s needs. Staff received appropriate levels of training and support to enable them to carry out their role to a high standard. People were actively involved in the whole recruitment process from shortlisting to interviews. People told us they valued this role to choose their own support.

People benefited from staff having exceptional skills around understanding each person’s needs and aspirations. This included support to access employment, education and community activities.

Information was available in an easy read format including policies and procedures such as complaints. The provider used easy read formats to respond to complaints where people needed this.

People had high feelings of wellbeing and a sense of being valued and included. People were supported to design their own care and make their own choices. They were treated with dignity and respect at all times.

The staff team were supported by an experienced registered manager who worked alongside the team and people who lived at the service to ensure people received a quality and safe service. Quality assurance systems were effective.

The person centred care people received meant they were supported to achieve their chosen goals, maintain good health and improve their skills. Staff focused on people’s wishes and aims to enable them to live as full a life as possible.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

We undertook this announced inspection on the 18 November 2015. At the previous inspection, which took place on 8 August 2013 the service met all of the regulations that we assessed.

Leeds-Harrogate DCA provides supported living, or community based support in people's own homes. The service supports people who live in the Leeds, Harrogate and Knaresborough area. The service supports people from a few hours a week, to 24 hour support and management of the support is delivered through an office in Knaresborough. At the time of this inspection the agency was providing support for ten younger people who had a learning disability and other associated conditions. Leeds-Harrogate DCA employs twenty seven support staff and also a registered manager.

There was a registered manager at this service. 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.

People told us they felt safe when receiving support from staff. The service recruited staff in a safe way making sure all necessary background checks had been carried out. Staff had a good understanding of safeguarding procedures and how to protect people from harm. There were risk assessments in place to identify risks due to people’s health or mobility and to make sure these were minimised without intruding on people’s privacy and independence. There were records that showed staff received the training they needed to keep people safe.

Care plans were comprehensive and had associated risk assessments. Medicines were managed safely. People were protected because staff at the agency were aware of and followed the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Staff were supported and trained to help them deliver effective care. They had access to mandatory training, and staff told us they were supported to attend other courses which would be of benefit to their personal development and people who used the service.

People who used the service were positive in their comments about staff and they told us they were supported to engage in activities which were meaningful to them.

Systems and processes were in place to monitor the service and make improvements where they could. This included internal audits and regular contact with people using the service, to check they were satisfied with their care packages. Policies and procedures had been updated to ensure they were in line with current legislation.

The service was well-led. The management team were committed to providing a good quality service. Systems and processes were in place to monitor the service and make improvements where they could. This included internal audits and regular contact with people using the service, to check they were satisfied with their care packages.

There were good auditing and monitoring systems in place to identify where improvements were required and the service had an action plan to address these.