Archived: Victoria House

Updated 18 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.

We visited the service on 9 February 2016, this was an unannounced inspection. The inspection team consisted of one inspector. Prior to our inspection we reviewed information we held about the service. This included information received about the service and statutory notifications. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.

Before the inspection, we asked the provider to complete 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 the most recent report from the commissioners who fund the care for all people living at the service.

During our inspection we spoke with four people who were using the service, two relatives, two members of care staff, the provider and the registered manager. We also observed the way staff cared for and interacted with people in the communal areas of the building. We looked at the care plans of two people and any associated records such as incident records and daily logs. We looked at four staff files as well as a range of records relating to the running of the service, such as audits, maintenance records and three medication administration records.

Updated 18 March 2016

This inspection took place on 9 February 2016 and was unannounced. Victoria House provides accommodation and personal care for up to six people with a learning disability. On the day of our inspection six people were using the service.

The service had 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 were protected from the risk of abuse because staff understood their responsibilities to keep people safe. Action was taken following any incidents to try and reduce the risks of incidents happening again. Any risks to people’s health and safety were assessed and well managed, without restricting people’s freedom.

People were supported by a sufficient number of staff and staffing levels were flexible to meet people’s needs. Effective recruitment procedures were operated to ensure staff were safe to work with vulnerable adults. People received their medicines as prescribed and they were safely stored.

Staff were provided with a comprehensive range of training courses and received regular supervision. Sufficient quantities of food and drink were available and people chose what they wanted to eat and when. People received support from health care professionals when needed.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) monitors the use of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). We found this legislation was being used correctly to protect people who were not able to make their own decisions about the care they received. We also found staff were aware of the principles within the MCA and how this might affect the care they provided to people.

There were positive relationships between staff and people. People were supported to make decisions about the care and support they needed. Staff treated people with dignity and respect, ensuring that privacy was maintained and encouraging their independence.

People were provided with responsive care and staff encouraged people to be as independent as possible. There was a comprehensive and individually tailored programme of activities available which enabled people develop important life skills with the support of staff. There was a clear complaints procedure in place and people felt comfortable speaking with the registered manager.

There was an open, relaxed and transparent culture in the home and good community links. The registered manager led by example and staff felt able to speak with them about any concerns.

There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service and these were well utilised and resulted in improvements being made. People’s views about the quality of the service they received were respected and changes made in response to feedback.