- Homecare service
ARCH Winchester
Assessment report published 12 February 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of inspection: 5 to 21 January 2026.
ARCH Winchester is a supported living service, registered to provide the regulated activity of personal care. The provider supports younger and older adults with mental health and/or substance misuse needs, to develop their skills to live more independently. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate the premises used for supported living. This was a responsive inspection of all 5 key questions triggered by our ongoing monitoring of the service.
Not everyone who used the supported living service was receiving the regulated activity of personal care, which is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating.Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided.We only reviewed the care and support for people who were receiving the regulated activity of personal care.
People received person centred care. Care staff ensured people were aware of the options for their support and decisions were made in consultation with them. Staff worked with people, so they were supported in the way they wished to be. Staff focused on identifying what people could do for themselves and the development of their skills.
The provider and care staff understood people’s care needs and risks, which were assessed before their support commenced. Care staff understood the signs people might be becoming unwell and responded appropriately.
Staff listened and responded to people's experiences, to enable them to have better outcomes from their care. These outcomes were in terms of being supported to manage community living, develop their levels of independence and self-care skills and engage with services, in order to meet their mental health and substance misuse needs.
The provider worked with other professionals and agencies involved in delivering people’s care. The provider supported staff well, and staff had access to their support and guidance as required.
However, we identified aspects of the service related to some records, which although not negatively impacting upon people’s care required further strengthening. The provider was responsive to our feedback and acted immediately to address the issues raised.
People's experience of this service
People spoken with told us staff supported them well and they felt safe with them. They found staff supporting them to be friendly, respectful and approachable. A person said, “Staff are caring” and another said, “Staff treat me properly.”
People trusted the care staff and said they could speak with them about issues. They felt there were enough staff to help them. They also felt able to raise issues with the provider and manager whom they saw regularly. People with disadvantaged protected characteristics received equitable support.
Care staff did activities with people if they wished, such as assisting them with shopping, cooking or going to appointments and activities. However, they also respected people’s rights to attend appointments themselves and encouraged people to do what they could for themselves.
People said staff supported them with their medicines which they ensured were ordered but also enabled them to self-medicate if they wished.
People felt staff were good at supporting them with any paperwork related to their care.