Background to this inspection
Updated
25 March 2023
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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Inspection team
This inspection was carried out by 1 inspector.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.
Registered Manager
This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.
At the time of our inspection a registered manager was in post
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because people and staff providing their support are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.
Inspection activity started on 22 February 2023 and ended on 06 March 2023. We conducted a site visit to the office on 02 March and visited people living in two supported living settings on 02 and 06 March 2023.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since registration. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We met with 3 people living in supported living settings. Not everyone using the service was able to speak with us, so staff supported them to feedback using their preferred communication methods. We also received feedback from the relative of 1 person using the service.
We spoke with two support workers, two deputy managers and the registered manager. We received feedback via email from 5 support workers. We reviewed the support plans and associated records for 3 people using the service. We reviewed 3 staff files in relation to recruitment and selection and a variety of other records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.
Updated
25 March 2023
About the service
Vital HealthCare - Buckinghamshire is a supported living service providing personal care to people as part of the support they need to live in their own homes. The service supports younger adults and older people with a learning disability and autism.
Not everyone who uses the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we consider any wider social care provided. At this inspection 3 people were receiving personal care.
People's experience of using this service and what we found
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. 'Right support, right care, right culture' is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.
Right Support
People had a good quality of life and were fully supported to lead fulfilling lives. Personalised support plans gave clear information for staff to follow in keeping people safe, whilst enabling people to be as independent as possible.
Effective systems were in place to monitor incidents and mitigate the risk of repeat incidents. People were involved in managing their personal risks and in making decisions about how to keep safe. Staff were skilled in recognising signs when people experienced emotional distress and knew how to support people to keep safe.
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. People were supported to understand their rights and have meaningful relationships. People told us they knew if needed, how to raise any concerns and felt confident they would be dealt with properly.
Right Care
Staff ensured people had full access to healthcare services. People's support plans were personalised. People using the service and their relatives confirmed staff provided support with care and compassion.
Right culture
Staff put people’s wishes, needs and rights at the heart of everything they did. The service promoted a culture of inclusion, diversity and equality.
People were supported to express their individuality. The staff team were caring and dedicated to the people they supported. People had the opportunity to try new experiences, develop new skills and gain independence. Staff supported people to pursue their chosen hobbies and interests and follow their cultural and religious beliefs.
People led inclusive and empowered lives because of the ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the management and staff. Staff ensured risks of a closed culture were minimised. People’s quality of life was enhanced by the service’s culture of transparency, respect, improvement and inclusivity.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
This service was registered with us on 23 July 2021 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.