Valour Healthcare Services

Updated 13 August 2022

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

The inspection team consisted of one inspector.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 3 August 2022 and ended on 8 August 2022. We visited the location’s office on 5 August 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

During the inspection we spoke with the registered manager and the office administrator, we also communicated with five staff via email. We spoke with four people or their relatives. We reviewed two care plans, risk assessments and medication records. We reviewed records pertaining to the running of the service as well as policies and procedures and audits. We looked at staff recruitment, induction, training and supervision.

Updated 13 August 2022

About the service

Valour Healthcare Services is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to people living in their own homes. At the time of the inspection, there were 20 people using the service.

Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People were supported safely and feedback from people and their relatives confirmed this. Risk assessments confirmed actions to be taken to mitigate any risk identified. Staff were recruited safely. Staff received training in safeguarding vulnerable adults and knew what action to take should they have any concerns. Infection control was well-managed. Medication was managed safely.

Full assessments were completed of people’s needs prior to the service providing personal care and support. Assessments captured the support required with nutrition and any health needs. Staff received a robust induction and training. Staff felt the training gave them the knowledge they required to support their job role.

People and their relatives told us staff were extremely caring, kind and friendly. All comments were very positive, and staff described how they promoted independence. Everyone we spoke with told us their care and support were dignified and staff went over and above to ensure they felt safe and comfortable.

Care plans were reflective of people’s care needs and regularly reviewed. Staff were able to read care plans and were supported to get to know people before providing care. People and relatives told us, they had not needed to complain as the registered manager was actively involved in the running of the service and visited them at home. People and relatives felt comfortable to talk with the registered manager and if they need to, and were confident to raise any concerns and they would be acted upon.

The provider had a clear vision to offer a service which achieved best outcomes for people. It was evident from speaking to people and relatives, the provider had built positive relationships and the consistency of a regular staff team had enhanced this. The provider had processes in place to continually improve the service and stood by their motto which was, “Proud to care.”

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

At the time of the inspection, the location did not care or support for anyone with a learning disability or an autistic person. However, we assessed the care provision under Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture, as it is registered as a specialist service for this population group.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update. This service was registered with us on 29 December 2020 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.