Archived: Vermont Lodge

Updated 2 March 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 9 November 2015 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice of the inspection because the service provides supported living to people who are often out during the day. We needed to be sure somebody would be in.

The inspection was carried out by an inspector.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also reviewed information we held about the service. We spoke with three people using the service and three members of staff including the manager. We carried out general observations throughout the inspection. We looked at records about people’s care and support which included three care records. We reviewed records about staff, policies and procedures, general risk assessments, and safety certificates, complaints and service audits. We consulted appropriate health and social care professionals for general feedback about the service.

Updated 2 March 2016

The inspection took place on 9 November 2015 and was unannounced. This was the first inspection of the service with this provider.

Vermont Lodge provides personal care and support to adults with mental health needs or learning disabilities in a supported living environment. At the time of the inspection 11 people were using the service.

The service has a registered manager. 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.

People at the service felt safe. Staff understood how to recognise and report abuse. People’s needs were supported with relevant risk assessments. There were sufficient numbers of staff to meet people’s needs. Safe recruitment procedures were followed when employing staff. Medicines were managed and administered safely.

Although staff had obtained relevant qualifications and completed training there had been no refresher training since early 2014. Staff were aware of the provisions of the Mental Capacity Act. People were supported to have a healthy diet and to maintain good health.

People commented positively about the manager and staff. People were supported to express their views and preferences. They were involved in making decisions about care and support. Staff promoted independence and respected people’s privacy and dignity. People were supported to maintain family links.

People received care that focussed on their individual needs. Care plans were person centred and covered a range of social and healthcare needs. Care plans reflected people’s needs, goals and preferences. People were encouraged to take part in activities. The service had systems to listen and learn from people’s experiences, concerns and complaints.

The service did not have a formal system of audits, reviews and checks to monitor and assess the quality of service they provided. Staff spoke positively about the manager who encouraged feedback and suggestions. Records relating to the care and support of each person using the service were fit for purpose.

We found two breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 in relation to staff training and a formal quality assurance process. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of this report.

We have recommended that the provider considers the guidance contained within the Mental Capacity Act 2005 Code of Practice and refers to current guidance for good practice in relation to policies, procedures and record keeping.