Archived: Verrolyne Suffolk

Updated 20 May 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.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by an inspector and an Expert by Experience. An 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.

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 beginning time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post however they were not present during the inspection and deregistered during the inspection process.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced. Inspection activity started on 5 April 2023 and ended on 17 April 2025. We visited the location’s office/service on 5 and 6 April 2023.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 2 people who used the service and 4 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We also had contact with 5 members of staff including care staff and the care manager. We reviewed a range of records. This included 3 people’s care plans and a variety of other records relating to the management of the service were also considered as part of the inspection.

Updated 20 May 2023

About the service

Verrolyne Suffolk is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to people in their own homes. At the time of our inspection there were 8 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

Medicines were not managed safely and relevant guidance was not followed with regard to recording when a person received medication support.

The provider's processes for monitoring the quality and safety of the service were not always effective. This had led to inconsistencies in the quality of care people received.

People told us that care staff followed good infection control procedures. However, this was not supported by the providers infection control policy. We have made recommendations with regard to this policy.

People's care was personalised however, care plans could better reflect the care and support people needed.

There were systems in place to safeguard people from the risk of abuse and staff knew how to recognise and report any concerns about people's safety.

There were enough staff available to meet people's needs. Staff received an induction and training for their role.

Assessments of people’s care needs were carried out by the registered manager or care manager before people began using the service to ensure the service could meet people's needs.

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.

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

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection as the service had not been rated since its registration.

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.