Archived: Vibrance Outreach

Vibrance outreach is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to one person in their own home. The provider also runs other schemes that do not carry out a regulated activity.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

The person’s friend told us the service was safe. The provider had identified a range of risks to protect people from the risk of harm to their wellbeing, however pressure ulcer risk assessments were not comprehensive.

The person’s friend told us the service was well run. There was an open culture at the service. However, the provider had did not have systems in place to fully assess the quality of the service and make any necessary improvements. We have made a recommendation about quality assurance. Staff told us they received training to help them carry out their roles although the provider did not keep full records of supervisions. The provider told us they would record supervisions going forward.

Staff understood their responsibilities to report signs of abuse to the manager. The person’s friend told us staff had developed good working relationships with the person using the service. The person’s independence was promoted and their privacy was protected. The person’s friend felt confident to raise concerns if required.

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.

Staff supported people to eat and drink enough and to have access to healthcare.

The provider developed care records based on referrals by the commissioning local authority which included the person’s likes and dislikes and updated them regularly.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published July 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.

There was a registered manager at the service at the time of our inspection. 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.

The service was safe and had practices in place to protect people from harm. Staff were knowledgeable about safeguarding and what to do if they had any concerns and how to report them.

Risk assessments were thorough and detailed and staff demonstrated their knowledge in knowing what to do in an emergency situation.

Staffing levels were meeting the needs of the people who used the service and staff demonstrated that they had the relevant knowledge to support people with their care.

Recruitment practices were safe and records confirmed this.

Medicines were managed and administered safely and audited on a regular basis.

Newly recruited care staff received an induction and training for care staff was provided.

Care staff demonstrated an understanding of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and how they obtained consent on a daily basis. Consent was recorded in people’s care plans.

People were supported with eating and preparing food in a personalised way.

People were supported to have access to healthcare services and receive on-going support. The service made referrals to healthcare professionals when necessary and records confirmed this. The service created pictorial care guidance for people who used the service to reduce the anxiety of GP and dentist appointments.

Positive relationships were formed between care staff and the people who used the service and care staff demonstrated how well they knew the people they cared for.

The service promoted the independence of the people who used the service; people were encouraged to carry out tasks like personal care in an independent way and were supported when necessary.

Care plans were detailed and contained personalised information about people who used the service and their needs. Care plans were reviewed and this was documented accordingly.

Concerns and complaints were encouraged and listened to and records confirmed this.

The registered manager had a good relationship with staff and the people using the service and their relatives. There was open communications between all parties.

The service had quality assurance methods in place.