Merseyside Supported Living

This service provides care and support to people living in 54 'supported living' settings, so that they can live in their own home as independently as possible. People's care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people's personal care and support. This service is also a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to 15 people living in their own houses and flats in the community

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 learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

The service had a registered manager who had been in post since November 2013.

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.

Care records and risk assessments were well-kept and up-to-date. Each person using the service had a personalised support plan and risk assessment. All records we saw were complete, up to date and regularly reviewed. We found that people and their relatives were involved in decisions about their care and support. There was an emergency continuity plan in all files looked at that would be used for example if the person was taken to hospital. The information was a summary of the care and support required and other relevant. We also saw that medications were handled appropriately and safely.

We found that recruitment practices were in place which included the completion of pre-employment checks prior to a new member of staff working at the service and disciplinary procedures had been followed appropriately and in accordance with policies. Staff received a comprehensive induction programme regular training and supervision to enable them to work safely and effectively.

People's GPs and other healthcare professionals were contacted for advice about people's health needs whenever necessary. The provider had systems in place to ensure that people were protected from the risk of harm or abuse. We saw there were policies and procedures in place and training to guide staff in relation to safeguarding adults.

The service had quality assurance processes in place including audits, staff meetings and quality questionnaires. The services policies and procedures had been regularly reviewed by the provider and these included policies on health and safety, confidentiality, mental capacity, medication, whistle blowing, safeguarding and recruitment.

People told us they were happy with the staff and felt that the staff understood the support needs of the people using the service. The people and the relatives we spoke with had no complaints about the service. The provider had a complaints procedure in place and this was available in the 'service user guide'.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found