The Old Vicarage

Updated 22 March 2019

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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations under the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team:

This inspection was carried out by one inspector and one inspection manager.

Service and service type:

The Old Vicarage is a care home without nursing that provides a service for up to 13 people with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorders. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. 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.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

Notice of inspection:

This inspection was unannounced and took place on 11 February 2019.

What we did:

Before the inspection we reviewed the information, we held about the service and the service provider. The registered 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 looked at the notifications we had received for this service. Notifications are information about important events the service is required to send us by law.

During the inspection we observed how staff interacted with people. We looked at records, which included five people’s care and medicines records. We checked recruitment, training and supervision records for three staff. We looked at a range of records about how the service was managed. We also spoke with the registered manager, deputy manager and four staff.

After the inspection we contacted six relatives to obtain their views about the service and we received feedback from three of them.

Updated 22 March 2019

About the service:

The Old Vicarage is a residential care home which provides accommodation and personal care for up to 13 adults living with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorders. At the time of our inspection there were 11 people using the service.

People’s experience of using this service:

People remained safe and were relaxed and comfortable with the staff team. A consistent team of competent, knowledgeable and skilled staff was in place. Risks to people’s well-being were assessed and there was emphasis on positive risk taking. Medicines were handled safely by staff who had been assessed as competent to do so.

People received effective care that was in line with good practice. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People remained treated with dignity and in a compassionate way. People's independence was encouraged as much as possible. People received person-centred care, which was tailored around their individual preferences, needs and wishes. People enjoyed positive and respectful relationships with the staff and management team. People's privacy and confidentiality was respected.

People’s needs were recorded in support plans and staff knew people’s needs well. People were supported to enjoy their hobbies and interests. The management saw complaints as a way to improve the service and people’s relatives told us concerns were being addressed promptly.

The service was well-run by the registered manager and a team of committed staff. People were involved and listened to. The team worked well with external professionals to ensure people’s needs were met.

Rating at last inspection:

Good (report published 3 August 2016).

Why we inspected:

This was our scheduled, planned inspection based on previous rating

Follow up:

We will monitor all intelligence received about the service to inform the assessment of the risk profile of the service and to ensure the next planned inspection is scheduled accordingly.

More information is in Detailed Findings below.