Archived: Canal Vue

Updated 10 November 2023

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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors, 1 specialist nurse advisor and 1 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

Canal Vue is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Canal Vue is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

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

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection and sought feedback from the local authority. 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

We spoke to 3 relatives, 5 people who use the service and 3 staff members on site. We reviewed 4 people’s care records which included care plans, risk assessments and medicine records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed including policies and procedures. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. We also obtained further feedback from a further 7 staff members and 15 relatives off site following the inspection.

Updated 10 November 2023

About the service

Canal Vue is a residential home providing personal care to up to 70 people. The service provides support to older people and people living with a dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 53 people using the service. The home provides care over 3 floors with a range of communal spaces for dining, activities and relaxation.

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

There were not always enough staff to support people with their individual needs. People’s risks were assessed and detailed in their care plans, however staff were not always deployed effectively to meet people’s needs.

The culture of the home did not always promote positive person-centred care and some staff and relatives did not always feel management adopted an honest and open culture. Systems in place to monitor the quality of the service did not always identify shortfalls in people’s records.

Staff were recruited safely and people receive their prescribed medicines on time. Staff received regular supervision and training to carry out their roles. People were protected from the risk of abuse. Staff received safeguarding training and understood the procedures of how to raise a concern.

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.

Correct infection and prevention control measures were followed. Accidents and incidents were recorded and actions taken to prevent the risk of reoccurrence. The provider worked with a range of healthcare professionals to help meet people’s outcomes.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 21 June 2021).

Why we inspected

We received concerns in relation to staffing. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

The overall rating for the service has changed from good to requires improvement based on the findings of this inspection.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the safe and well sections of this full report.

You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Canal Vue on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We have identified breaches in relation to staffing and governance. Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.