Westminster Homecare Limited (Independent Living Network) is registered to provide a supported living and domiciliary care service to people living in their own home. This service included that for people living with autism and learning difficulties. At time of our inspection there were 120 people using the service. The service is provided to people living in Cambridgeshire, Fenland and Peterborough areas. Their head office is located in the city of Ely.

This announced comprehensive inspection was undertaken by one inspector and an expert by experience and took place on 26 and 27 September 2017. At the previous inspection on 25 and 26 November 2015 the service was rated as ‘Good’. At this inspection we found the service remained 'Good'.

A registered manager was in post at the time of the inspection. 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.

Staff had retained the knowledge and skills from their safeguarding training to be able to protect people's rights whilst keeping them as safe from harm as possible. Staff knew the correct procedures to follow should they need to report and concerns they may have had about people's safety such as with medicines' administration.

Accidents and incidents such as those for people whose behaviours could challenge others and medicines administration were acted upon. A robust recruitment and staff selection process ensured that only staff who had been deemed suitable to work with people using the service were employed.

People were supported with the safe management and administration of their prescribed medicines by staff who had been deemed competent to do this.

Systems and processes remained in place to manage risks to people's safety and wellbeing. These were being followed to help ensure that any risk to people such as in their home, out in the community or using transport was managed as far as practicable.

A sufficient number of competent and skilled staff were able to meet people’s assessed needs. This helped ensure that people were given the help and support when they needed it and that this assistance was effective.

Staff continued to have received appropriate induction, training, support and development to carry out their role in a way which people benefited from.

People were enabled to access health care services and appointments by staff who made a difference to the quality of people's health. People were supported to eat and drink in a way which assisted with their nutritional needs.

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 supported this practice.

People's care and support was provided with consideration, kindness, sensitivity and compassion by staff who respected people's right to privacy.

People were given and provided with various means and opportunities to comment on the quality of their care. People's suggestions and views were acted on promptly and this helped improve the quality of life that people lived.

People's interests, hobbies and pastimes were encouraged by skilled staff in an individual way such as enabling people to achieve ambitions that were previously not thought possible. As a result of staff interventions and respect for people’s independence, people led a more meaningful life.

The registered manager had created an inclusive atmosphere within the service and this had fostered an open and honest staff team culture. Staff were confident to report any care that was not up to the provider's standards.

Effective quality assurance systems and spot check/audit procedures were in place to drive improvements. Timely actions were

This inspection took place on 25 and 26 November 2015 and was unannounced. This was the first inspection of this service at this registered address.

Westminster Homecare Limited (t/a Independent Living Network) is a domiciliary care and supported living service that is registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes. A service is provided mainly for people living with a learning disability. At the time of our inspection there were 140 people using the service. In supported living services, people live in their own home usually under a tenancy or licence agreement. They often receive personal care and/or social support in order to promote their independence.

The service did not have a registered manager. 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. The provider had appointed a new manager but they had not yet taken up their position.

A process was in place that helped ensure that staff were recruited after all the required checks had been completed. Only those who were staff deemed suitable to work with people using the service were offered employment. People were cared for by a sufficient number of suitably qualified staff.

Staff had been trained in medicines administration. They had their competency to do this regularly assessed. Safe medicines administration practice was adhered to.

Staff were knowledgeable about, and had regular training and updates in, protecting people from harm. Staff knew who they could report any concerns to including their manager, the local safe guarding authority or the Care Quality Commission.

The operations’ manager and staff were knowledgeable about the situations where an assessment of people’s mental capacity was required. The service was working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Applications were being processed through the local authority to lawfully and safely deprive some people of their liberty.

People were supported with their care needs in a way that respected their privacy, dignity and independence. Risk assessments were in place for subjects such as supporting people out in the community, behaviours which could challenge others and medicines administration. Checks were completed to help ensure that people’s homes were a safe place for staff to work in.

A formal assessment process was in place to help ensure that people received the care they wanted. People were involved in this process in defining and agreeing their care needs.

People were supported to see or be seen by a range of health care professionals including their GP, community nurse or psychiatrist.

Sufficient quantities of food and drink were made available for people. People could choose to be as independent as they wanted with their eating and drinking.

Staff were provided with regular support, mentoring and training for their roles. This was through an effective programme of planned supervision and appraisals.

People were provided with information, guidance and support on how to report any concerns, compliments or suggestions for improvement. However, there was no alternative formats provided to people such as easy read documents. The provider took appropriate action to ensure any complaints were addressed to the complainant’s satisfaction.

Audit and quality assurance procedures were in place. However, not all audits were effective. The provider had not always notified the CQC of events that they are required, by law, to do so.

We found a breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.