Background to this inspection
Updated
1 September 2021
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 Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was completed by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 24 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 12 July 2021 and ended on 23 July 2021. We visited the office location on 13 July 2021.
What we did before the inspection
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We reviewed all the information we had received about the service since they registered with us. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with five people who used the service and seven relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with two members of care staff, the registered manager and the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We reviewed a range of records. These included four people's care records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We reviewed documentation provided.
Updated
1 September 2021
About the service
Vida Basingstoke is a domiciliary care service, providing personal care to people living in Basingstoke and the surrounding area. On the day of the inspection 16 people were receiving the regulated activity of personal care.
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 overall were satisfied with the care provided. People’s feedback included, “The service is very good and I would recommend this company” and “I am very happy with the carers: they are very helpful and very polite.” People provided mixed feedback about the leadership of the service and some people felt some aspects could be further improved.
The provider ensured people received their medicines safely from trained staff. Processes were in place to ensure potential risks to people were identified, assessed and managed. People’s daily records were accurate, complete and available. Staff were recruited safely and pre-employment checks completed. People were supported by suitable staff to enable them to stay safe and meet their needs. The provider had processes and practices in place to safeguard people from the risk of abuse. Processes were in place to manage infection control risks arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
People’s needs were assessed and their care and treatment was planned and delivered to achieve effective outcomes. Staff received an induction to their role and ongoing supervision of their work. People were supported to eat and drink. Staff ensured people were supported to meet their healthcare needs and referrals were made to relevant professionals as required.
Staff treated people with kindness and compassion. Staff supported people to express their views and to be involved in decisions about their care. People’s privacy and dignity and independence were respected and promoted.
People received personalised care which reflected their needs. The provider had processes in place for people to raise any complaints. Staff were able to support people with end of life care as required.
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. We have made a recommendation about how staff record people’s verbal consent to their care.
Processes were in place to monitor the quality of the service and to seek the views of both people and staff. The provider and the registered manager both understood the short-term staffing risks to the service over the summer holidays and had taken action to ensure people received their care as planned. The provider had worked openly with external agencies about staffing issues. The registered manager was working to build a positive culture within the service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The first inspection of this service focused on two key areas, safe and well-led, an overall rating was not provided (published 22 April 2021). There were three breaches of regulations. Two Warning Notices were issued in relation to safe care and treatment and good governance and a requirement notice for requirements relating to workers.
The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
This service was registered with us on 10/11/2020 and this is the first overall rating inspection.
Why we inspected
This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection and to provide an overall rating for the service.
You can read the report from our last inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Vida Basingstoke on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.