Valdigarth

Updated 13 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 two inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Valdigarth 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 registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service.

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 used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service and four relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with eight members of staff including one of the partners, the finance director, the registered manager, the deputy manager, and four care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data, policies, procedures, and quality assurance records. We spoke with one professional who had regular contact with the service.

Updated 13 August 2021

About the service

Valdigarth is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 10 people living with a learning disability. There were 10 people living at the service at the time of this inspection.

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

The registered manager was not always clear about which incidents should be reported to the Commission. Services that provide health and social care are required to inform CQC of important events by submitting a statutory notification. We have made a recommendation about statutory notifications.

People and relatives told us they thought the service was safe. Staff understood their safeguarding responsibilities. Risks to people were appropriately assessed and clear guidance was in place for staff to manage risks. There were enough staff on duty to support people, and staff were recruited appropriately. People received their medicines as prescribed. Infection control policies and procedures were in place to help keep people safe.

Audits were regularly carried out to monitor the quality of the service for people. Leaders were approachable and people had confidence in the management. The service involved people, relatives and staff in a meaningful way. Feedback was encouraged and action taken in response to people’s views. Referrals were made to healthcare professionals in an appropriate and timely manner.

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 the safe and well-led key questions, the service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.

People were offered choice and encouraged to pursue their interests. People were supported to be independent where possible. Staff were knowledgeable about people’s individual characteristics and their preferred routines. People were treated with respect and spoke positively about the staff supporting them. The service had a person-centred culture, a positive atmosphere, and was open to suggestions, feedback and continuous improvement.

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 15 November 2019).

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about allegations of financial abuse. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks. These allegations are subject to a criminal investigation. As a result, this inspection did not examine the circumstances of the allegations.

The information CQC received about the allegations indicated concerns around the management of risk, safeguarding service users from abuse, submission of notifications, and oversight.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from these concerns. Please see the safe and well-led sections of this full report.

We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating 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.

The overall rating for the service has remained the same. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Valdigarth 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.