We carried out a review of the data available to us about Vinegar House on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Vinegar House, you can give feedback on this service.
Vinegar House is a residential care home which provides care to people with mental health needs. It is registered to provide care for up to 13 people. At the time of our inspection there were 10 people living at the service.
Not everyone who used 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 also consider any wider social care provided.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Systems were in place to report safeguarding concerns to keep people safe from harm. Risks were assessed and monitored to ensure risks were kept to a minimum. There were enough staff to ensure people were supported sufficiently. Medicines were administered in a safe way. The service had a good standard of hygiene and followed infection control protocols. Systems were in place to monitor themes and trends when things went wrong.
People’s needs were assessed, and records showed people received person-centred care that reflected their needs and preferences. People felt staff had attended sufficient training and did a good job supporting them. Staff received supervision and met with management regularly, but meetings were not always recorded. People received a balanced diet and were supported to eat and drink sufficiently. People were supported to attended medical appointments to keep them safe and well. The service had a good relationship with GP’s and other professionals to ensure people received the correct care and support.
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.
People told us the staff were lovely. Staff always spoke to people with respect and compassion. People were supported to share their views and opinions. Staff supported people to live independent life styles and their privacy and dignity was always respected. People were supported to reach their goals and communication needs were met.
Care planning was assessed and personalised to ensure individual needs were met. People’s confidence development, living skills and healthy eating was supported. People participated in a variety of activities. Systems and processes were in place to manage complaints and concerns. End of life care was explored.
The registered manager understood their duty of candour but did not always follow up to make sure all incidents had been reported correctly when required. Quality monitoring was in place but did not identify the concerns we found. People were empowered to achieve good outcomes and were involved in their care and support. People were encouraged to engage and share their views. The registered manager said they would review their processes and procedures to ensure they were robust and fit for purpose as a continued learning process. Commissioners gave positive feedback.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection was Good (19 October 2016 last report published)
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.
Vinegar House is a residential home which provides care to people with mental health needs. It is registered to provide care for up to 13 people. At the time of our inspection there were eight people living at the home.
There was a registered manager in post. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People using the service we spoke with said they thought the home was safe. Staff had been trained in safeguarding (protecting people from abuse) and understood their responsibilities in this area.
People's risk assessments had not comprehensively provided staff with information of how to support people safely.
People using the service told us they thought medicines were given safely and on time.
Staff had not always subject to robust character checks to ensure they were appropriate to work with the people who used the service.
Staff had been trained to ensure they had the skills and knowledge to meet people's needs.
Staff understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) to allow, as much as possible, people to have an effective choice about how they lived their lives.
People had plenty to eat and drink and everyone told us they liked the food provided.
People's health care needs had been protected by referral to health care professionals when necessary.
People told us they liked the staff and got on very well with them, and we saw many examples of staff working with people in a friendly, supportive and caring way.
People and their representatives were involved in making decisions about care, treatment and support.
Care plans were individual to the people using the service and usually covered their health and social care needs, though more detail was needed to ensure specific health advice was discussed with people and included in care plans.
There were sufficient numbers of staff to ensure that people's needs were responded to in good time.
Activities were in place to provide stimulation for people and people took part in activities in their chosen community activities.
People and their relatives told us they would tell staff if they had any concerns and were confident that proper action would be taken.
People and staff were satisfied with how the home was run by the registered manager and the management team.
Management carried out audits to check that the home was running properly to meet people's needs, though not all essential systems had been audited.
People told us that they had agreed to the care and treatment they received.
Further activities and outings were being provided to ensure that people have access to meaningful activities to occupy their day.
People told us they liked their meals, which included a choice and variety of foods. Comments received from people included 'the food is cool, if I don't like something on the menu they will cook an alternative, the food is very good, we get plenty of choice'.
Arrangements were in place to ensure that medicines were handled appropriately, and that people received them at the times they needed them.
People told us they liked the staff that supported them and that they felt able to talk to them as they were approachable. Two people also said that they felt that the staff had the right skills to care for them.
Staff worked well together as a team. Further training had been put in place to enable staff to carry out their work effectively.
People's care records overall provided an accurate account of the care and treatment provided to meet their needs.
People felt listened to and had a say in how the service is run. People also felt able to raise any concerns about the care and service with staff.
People told us that they were encouraged to take part in social and leisure activities of their choice. We found that further activities were needed to ensure that all people have access to meaningful activities to occupy their day.
Sufficient numbers of staff were generally available to meet people's needs. The support of a new cook and a housekeeper meant that the care staff had more time to spend with people.
Further training needs to be put in place to enable staff to carry out their work effectively.
Effective systems had been put in place to monitor the quality of the care and service that people receive, and to identify and manage risks.
People told us they liked living at Vinegar House as the atmosphere was relaxed and the daily routines were flexible.
People felt involved in decisions about their care and treatment. People told us they were happy with the care and support they received, and felt that their needs were being met. One person told us ''this is a good place to live; my mental health has improved since I came here.'
People said that they received care from regular staff who knew their needs. People described staff as friendly and helpful.
People said they were encouraged to take part in social and leisure activities of their choice. Two people felt that more activities were needed to occupy their day. One person told us 'they enjoyed going out with the two volunteers, although there was not much to do when the volunteers were not available.' Another person told us 'I rely on my friend to take me out.'
People felt that staff treated them with dignity and respected their privacy.
People felt listened to and had a say in how the service is run. People also felt able to raise any concerns about the care and service with staff.
People told us they were supported to maintain contact with their family and friends.
Relatives told us they were generally happy with the care and support their family member received. Relatives felt able to raise any concerns about the care and service with staff.
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