Background to this inspection
Updated
3 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.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built or adapted single household accommodation in a shared site or building. The accommodation is rented and is the occupant’s own home. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for extra care housing; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support service.
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
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection. We visited the office location on 9 June 2021.
What we did before the inspection
We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We also sought feedback from the local authority and Healthwatch. This information helps support our inspections. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with the registered manager and two other members of staff. We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care plans and medicines records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment, staff supervision and training. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were also reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at further management records. We spoke with one person using the service and their relative about their experience of the care provided. We also spoke with two staff members providing care to people.
Updated
3 August 2021
About the service
Your Life Virginia Water is a care agency supporting older people with health and care needs who live in their own flats in specialist extra care housing in Augustus House in Virginia Water. At the time of the inspection two people received support with the regulated activity of personal care.
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
People received support tailored to their individual needs and risks from staff who knew them well. Where required, staff were trained to support people safely with their medicines and risks to people were addressed to provide them with additional support. Staff knew how to protect people from abuse and neglect. The provider had effective safeguarding systems in place.
There were enough staff employed to provide people with care in line with their assessed needs. The registered manager monitored care visits and ensured staff could access management support in case of any emergencies. The provider had safe systems for recruiting new staff.
People received person-centred support provided by staff who shared the service values of promoting people’s independence, dignity and respecting their choices. People were involved in their care and staff promoted their choices. Staff supported people to enable contact with families, access healthcare services and enjoy social interaction and activities that matched their preferences.
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 service was well-managed. The registered manager regularly supported staff with training and supervision and completed audits and checks in key areas of the service. We saw improvements were made when issues were identified. People and their relatives told us they felt listened to and found the management to be approachable, open and transparent. Staff told us they felt supported by the provider.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 28/02/2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the date the service was registered with CQC.
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.