We carried out a review of the data available to us about Daisy Vale House on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Daisy Vale House, you can give feedback on this service.
We were somewhat assured that this service met good infection prevention and control guidelines.
The home was clean and there were no malodours. However, we found some areas in the home where there was evidence of damp. The home had already taken steps to address these issues and we are seeking further clarification about this outside of the inspection.
At the time of our inspection the home was not allowing visitors unless there was an emergency or required need. Risks of visiting professionals spreading infection were reduced. Visitors had their temperature taken and were asked about their health before entering the service.
Staff supported people to keep in touch with family and friends through video and phone calls to prevent isolation and promote people's mental wellbeing. Some people living in the home were supported by staff in the community and complied with the current government guidelines.
Cleaning schedules were in place and touch points were being cleaned every two hours. Staff also recorded when they had washed their hands to ensure this was carried out on a regular basis.
The provider had appropriate arrangements to test people and staff for COVID- 19 and was following government guidance on testing.
Staff were trained on how to keep people safe from the risk of infection. All staff wore their PPE in line with government guidance.
People admitted to the service were supported following government guidelines on managing new admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The home's infection prevention and control policy was up to date and in line with current guidance. The home had a contingency plan in place for when emergencies occurred.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.
Daisy Vale House is a residential care home providing personal care to 16 people living with a learning disability at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 16 people.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties. It was registered for the support of up to 16 people. Sixteen people were using the service. This is larger than current best practice guidance. However, the size of the service having a negative impact on people was mitigated by the building design fitting into the residential area and the other large domestic homes of a similar size. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
There were enough staff deployed to meet people’s needs, and staff had the right training and support. People received care from a team of staff who know them and their needs well.
Care plans contained detailed person centred information with clear guidance for staff on how to meet people’s needs. People’s communication needs were recorded in a personalised way so that it was clear to staff what people’s gestures and linguistic idiosyncrasies meant and how staff were to respond.
People were supported to fully engage with the local community and take up education and employment with support from staff. People were supported to fulfil their ‘goals and dreams’ on a routine basis. These included holidays, educational courses and individual activities.
People received their medicines as prescribed, and risks to people were assessed in a personalized way.
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.
There were quality assurance processes in place, and the registered manager had good oversight of the quality of service delivery.
People, their relatives and staff said there was good engagement from the provider with surveys and meetings where their needs were listened to and acted upon.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update: The last rating for this service was good (published 16 May 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
Daisy Vale House provides care for up to 16 people who have a learning disability. The service had a manager who has been at the home for two months and is currently going through the Care Quality Commission (CQC) registration process. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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.
During the inspection there was a happy, friendly atmosphere and people were relaxed in the company of staff and others they lived with. People who used the service as well as staff told us they were happy living and working in the home.
Staff we spoke with said they felt supported in their role and received training to help them understand how to do their job well. We saw systems for ensuring staff received regular supervision were in place. Training records showed staff completed many training packages and systems for checking staff knowledge were in place. The provider had arrangements for making decisions in line with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in that people were encouraged to make decisions and when they required assistance they were provided with support. People had good meal experiences and enjoyed the food. Systems were in place that ensured people accessed appropriate healthcare services.
People told us they received a good standard of care and felt respected. They also said their independence was promoted. People who used the service looked well cared for; their personal appearance was well maintained, for example, people’s hair was brushed, and their clothing and glasses were clean. Staff knew people and their needs well, and treated people with respect and dignity. When we looked around the service we saw there was information available to help keep people informed about their rights and what to expect when they experienced care at Daisy Vale.
People who used the service and their relatives told us they felt involved in planning their care. Care plans identified how to support people with personal care, rights and consents, medication, continence and communication. People were encouraged to engage in different group and individual activity sessions. A procedure was in place to respond to concerns and complaints. Several written compliments had been received.
During the inspection we received very positive feedback about the manager and were told they were making definite improvements to the service. Regular meetings were held, and in the last few weeks the frequency of meetings had increased which ensured communication within the service was effective.
This inspection took place on 5 January 2016 and was unannounced. At the last inspection in November 2013 we found the provider was meeting the regulations we looked at.
Daisy Vale House provides care for up to 16 people who have a learning disability. 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.
During the inspection there was a happy, friendly atmosphere and people were relaxed in the company of staff and others they lived with. People who used the service and staff told us they were happy living and working in the home. People were involved in menu planning and enjoyed the meals.
People’s care and support needs were generally assessed and there was lots of information about how support should be provided, however, there were gaps in support plans, and some health action plans required updating and capacity assessments were sometimes generalised which could result in people’s needs being overlooked. A range of professionals were involved to help make sure people stayed healthy although they did not always access community health services so choice and opportunity were limited.
People were well cared for. Staff knew people well and understood their likes and dislikes. There were enough staff to keep people safe although an additional member of staff was being employed to make sure everyone benefitted from person centred activities.
Staff were skilled and experienced to meet people’s needs because they received appropriate training and support. Staff dealt with situations calmly, discreetly and confidently. Situations were diffused and passed without incident.
People told us they felt safe. The provider had systems in place to protect people from the risk of harm and staff understood how to keep people safe. We identified potential risks with how medicines were being managed and the provider responded swiftly and took action to make sure appropriate arrangements were put in place.
The service had good management and leadership. People who used the service and staff were encouraged to put forward suggestions and ideas. The registered manager was working with everyone to develop the service and ensure high quality standards. People were made aware of how to make a complaint but had no concerns about their care. They said they would talk to staff or management if they had any problems and felt they would be listened to.
We found a breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) regulations 2014. You can see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.
People told us they could make decisions about their care and support. One person said, 'I decide what I'm doing and tell the staff so they know. When I'm going to be late for my meals I just let them know.' Another person said, 'My keyworker writes things down when we talk and I sign my own name.' Another person said, 'I tell the staff what I want.' Another person told us staff and other professionals had talked to them and helped them make decisions.
Staff said people received support which was planned to make sure it met their individual circumstances and systems were in place to make sure other professionals were involved when appropriate.
People who used the service, staff and visitors were protected against the risks of unsafe premises. Several people showed us their rooms; these were personalised. They said they had chosen their furniture and furnishings. One person said, 'I put all my certificates up on my wall.'
There were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff to meet people's needs. People said they received support at appropriate times. One person said, 'The staff are kind.' Another person said, 'The staff will take me out when I want to go. '
We looked at a number of records which showed regular checks were carried out to help make sure people who used the service benefitted from safe quality care.
People were positive about the level of support they received from staff. One person told us; 'I like living here.' Another person said they felt supported by staff and that staff had taken the time to help them improve their reading and writing. This person also informed us that they were aware of their care record and regularly discussed this with their key worker. People were happy with the staff. One person said; 'The staff are first class.'
People told us they had a choice regarding the food they ate. People said they had a takeaway once a week, if they wished, and could choose what they wanted to have. One person said; 'I like the food.' Another person told us; 'The food is good.' People we spoke with said they were able to help themselves to food and drink from the kitchen.
The manager was on leave on the date of the visit. We therefore spoke to the acting manager on the day of the visit.