Ventura

Ventura is a residential service providing personal care and accommodation for up to 7 people with mental health support needs. The service consists of 2 self-contained flats and an adapted main building which includes 5 individual bedrooms, communal spaces and an accessible outdoor space. At the time of our inspection there were 5 people using the service.

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

People told us they were safe being supported by the service. However, despite positive feedback we found shortfalls with risk assessments and quality assurance systems which placed people at increased risk of harm.

Systems in place to monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service were not fully effective in ensuring shortfalls were addressed. Risks to people were not always sufficiently assessed and mitigated.

People received their medicines as prescribed, however national guidance was not always followed. Most areas of the service were clean and maintained, however we identified some areas in need of repair.

Safe recruitment procedures were in place; however, recruitment records were not always maintained. There were sufficient staff to keep people safe. Staff had completed safeguarding training and knew how to report any concerns.

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.

The registered manager sought the views of people using the service. The service had a positive culture, staff told us they felt supported, and people spoke positively of the support they received.

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 October 2017). There was a targeted inspection published February 2021, this did not change the rating.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

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.

Enforcement

We have identified breaches in relation to safe care and treatment and good governance at this inspection.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.

We found the following examples of good practice.

The provider had not had an outbreak of coronavirus within in the home. At the time of the inspection all residents and staff had tested negative. All residents had received their first coronavirus vaccination.

When staff came on shift, they checked their temperature and sanitised their hands on entering the building. At the time of our inspection staff were able to maintain social distance because people living at the service didn’t need close support with their personal care needs. Staff wore masks at all times and additional personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and aprons when required.

Staff had received training in infection control, including how to safely put on and take off PPE such as face coverings, gloves and aprons (if needed). The registered manager and provider carried out regular observations to check on good practice.

Due to the recent increase in coronavirus infections the provider had stopped all visitors coming into the home to reduce the risk of the virus entering the home. The provider was in the process of having a visiting pod constructed in the garden. This was to enable visits to take place safely.

People living in the home were deemed to have capacity and understood the importance of maintaining social distance in public and wearing masks. However, the registered manager told us that most of the people living at the service were happy to not have to go out. The provider had a policy and procedure in place to check visitors’ temperatures, ensure they sanitised their hands, wore PPE and maintained social distancing.

The registered manager and provider told us they would isolate individuals in their room should there be an outbreak of coronavirus. They had contingency plans to manage shared bathrooms safely; this included extra staff to carry out thorough cleaning after each use.

Regular testing was carried out, weekly PCR testing for staff and monthly testing for people living in the home, this was in line with coronavirus testing guidance. Staff also undertook a lateral flow test at home before coming on shift.

At the last inspection in August 2015 the service was rated Good.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good:

The service continued to provide safe care to people. People said they felt safe. Staff understood people well and supported them to lead the lives they wanted as safely as possible. People’s rights were protected because the service followed the appropriate legal processes.

People were protected through staff knowledge and good practice in medicines and protecting people from abuse. Staff were in sufficient numbers, adequately trained and supported.

People said they liked the food and that they were helped to maintain a healthy weight. Appropriate health care professionals, such as the mental health services, were involved in planning and meeting people’s health care needs. Each person had a regularly reviewed plan of their care to which they had agreed.

People were encouraged to engage in household tasks and internal and community activities. Some chose to get involved and others said they did not wish to adding that they were able to engage in the activities they wished.

People knew who to take any concern or complaint to. The home was well managed with measures in place to asses the quality of the service. There was a culture of providing safe care in a respectful and dignified manner through listening and responding to people’s invidivual needs and wishes.

Further information is in the detailed findings below

We looked at four records to check that people had given consent to their care, treatment and support. We saw that each person's file had a document where it was clear that people had signed to say that they 'consent to treatment as outlined in my care plan'.

We saw records of four care plans kept at the service which had comprehensive information about each person. People who used the service told us that they knew what was in their care plan and they had meetings with their Community Psychiatric nurse or social worker to review their care plans.

People told us that if they were worried about anything they would talk to their key worker or the manager. They told us that these staff were very approachable. This means that people who use services are aware of how to raise concerns of abuse.

People who used the service told us that 'the staff are very good, always helpful and kind'. Another person told us 'these are the best staff I have come across'. We observed staff interacting with people who used the service in a respectful way.

We saw a system for gathering and evaluating information to ensure that the service was delivered safely and effectively.

The staff we spoke with had a very clear understanding of the care needs of people who lived in the home. We saw that people were treated with respect and dignity, for example, staff were observed to make good eye contact and used touch to reassure people.

Staff told us they were aware of the home's policies on recognising and reporting abuse and would not hesitate to report any concerns to the manager.

Regular audits of the premises, care practices and documentation were carried out to maintain the health safety and wellbeing of people at the home.

We observed the atmosphere and general ambiance of the home to be friendly, calm and relaxed.