Background to this inspection
Updated
6 August 2021
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 Care Act 2014.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.
Inspection team
This inspection was carried out by one inspector and one medicines inspector supporting remotely.
Service and service type
Venetia House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a manager, who was in the process of registering with the Care Quality Commission. This means that the registered provider is legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
We gave a short period notice of the inspection this was to help the service and us manage any risks associated with COVID-19.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We requested information from the local authority and the local Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with three people who used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff including the manager, a team leader, a care worker and the registered provider.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the manager to validate evidence found. We looked at further policies, procedures and safety monitoring records.
Updated
6 August 2021
About the service
Venetia House is a 12-bed residential home providing personal care to 11 people at the time of the inspection. The care home supports people in an adapted building.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
We have made a recommendation about the development, regular review and implementation of service policies and procedures.
People told us that they were happy living in the service and staff were kind and caring.
People did not always receive their medicines as prescribed. Risks associated with people's care had been identified and mitigated. Measures were in place to reduce the risk of infection. Accidents and incidents were reviewed.
Systems and processes were in place to protect people from abuse and people told us they felt safe. There were enough staff to meet people's needs and staff were recruited safely. There was a clear system in place to monitor the quality of the service. Quality audits were conducted, and the manager and provider had oversight of the service.
People and relatives spoke positively about the care provided and people were supported to stay in contact with their loved ones.
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
Based on our review of Safe and Well-led the service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting some of the underpinning principles of Right support, Right Care, Right Culture.
We observed people led conversations with care staff on what activities were occurring and when they would take place. Staff interactions were respectful, and staff never overpowered the situation, promoting the people’s involvement in conversations and decision making. People told us they were happy in their home and with who they lived with.
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 requires improvement (published 5 March 2021) and there were two breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations. The service remains rated requires improvement. This service has been rated requires improvement for the last two consecutive inspections.
Why we inspected
We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 28 September 2020. Breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve relating to safe care and treatment and good governance.
We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe and Well-led which contain those requirements.
The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has not changed following this focused inspection and remains requires improvement. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Venetia House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
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.