Vermuyden Care

Updated 30 December 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 one inspector 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

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.

The service had a manager who was also the provider, registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means they 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 short notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider would be in the office to support the inspection.

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 providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

Prior to visiting the office location we contacted nine people using the service and/or their family members by telephone to gain their views of the service. We visited the office location on 26 October 2021. During the visit we spoke the registered manager and the assistant manager.

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

After the office visit, we requested and reviewed further written records. This included information regarding the management and deployment of staff, medicines, infection control and the overall governance, including the quality and safety of the service.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 30 December 2021

Vermuyden Care is a domiciliary care service that provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community. It provides a service in the Doncaster area.

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. At the time of inspection, the service was providing personal care to 22 people.

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

There was mixed feedback from people and their relatives. Some people were unhappy about staffing, consistency of staff, and communication with the office. However, other people’s comments reflected improvements made since the last inspection.

A new registered manager had been employed since the last inspection and had made significant improvements to the systems of governance. There was better management oversight of the service. The service used a range of audits and tools to assess the quality and safety of the service. Although, some improvements had been made relatively recently, they were on-going, and needed embedding into practice. The service was improving the way they engaged with and sought the views of people, those close to them and staff to improve the service.

Improvement had been made to ensure staff were recruited safely and that people's medicines were well managed. Staff received appropriate training, which was relevant to their role and to people's individual needs. Staff were clear on how to identify and report any safeguarding concerns.

Good progress had been made in ensuring people’s risk assessments and care plans were personalised, detailed. and included information about people's preferences. People’s health and wellbeing were well supported.

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.

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 inadequate (published 8 January 2021) and there were two breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found evidence of improvement in these areas and the provider was no longer in breach of the regulations.

Why we inspected

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions safe, effective and well-led which contain those requirements.

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about staffing level, including missed and late care calls and the management of the service. A decision was made for us to inspect to examine the risks. 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

The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has changed from Inadequate to requires improvement. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

During this inspection the provider demonstrated that improvements have been made. The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Vermuyden Care on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

Following this report being published we will discuss with the provider how they will make changes to ensure they improve their rating to at least good. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.