Vida Court

Updated 3 June 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.

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

The inspection was conducted by 2 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

Vida Court is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Vida Court is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

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 there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since they registered with CQC. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. 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 used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 6 people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We also spoke with 2 professionals who were visiting the service, as well as the nominated individual, registered manager, care manager, quality manager, chef and 5 nursing and care staff.

We conducted a tour of the service and looked at a wide variety of records. These included staff recruitment and supervision files, audits used to monitor the service and environmental servicing and checks.

We spent time conducting observations of staff interactions in communal areas as well as observing the lunch time experience and activities on offer. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

Following the inspection site visit we requested some documents electronically. These included care plans and risk assessments, monitoring documentation, further evidence of quality assurance checks and records relating to achieving outcomes.

We also contacted a further 4 relatives and 3 professionals via email to request feedback on the service provided.

Updated 3 June 2023

Vida Court is large nursing home providing personal and nursing care to up to 100 people across 8 units which are called houses. Each house has its own separate adapted facilities. When we inspected, 4 houses were open, and 42 people were using the service.

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

The service significantly improved people’s quality of life and self-esteem. Staff used exceptionally creative ways of following best practice guidance to ensure people’s care and support needs were met even when this meant approaching and managing difficult conversations.

Staff spent time exploring people’s history to establish how they liked to dress, their favourite perfume/aftershave or jewellery as well as how they would usually spend their day so this could be replicated within the home. This helped people feel good and increase their self-esteem. The registered manager was passionate about ensuring each person could live their life as they wished. They promoted equality and led by example, promoting a strong message that anything was achievable by working together and treating everyone as individuals.

The provider’s ethos of ensuring excellence remained at the forefront of everything shone through each and every staff member and their approach to supporting people. Senior leaders and staff underpinned the core values of Vida Healthcare demonstrating respect, dignity, fairness, equality and autonomy. Staff spent meaningful time getting to know each person and things that were important to them.

A truly person-centred approach was adopted in relation to new admissions to the home. This included accommodating several visits to the service so people could get to know staff as well as exploring how people wished for their bedroom to be decorated and furnished or what sentimental items were important to them and why.

Meaningful relationships had been developed which were based on trust and mutual respect. Innovation was led by the use of the latest research and professional literature and fully embedded throughout the service. Staff often thought outside the box to support people to engage in difficult conversations, communicate their needs and understand their preferences.

People, relatives and professionals highly commended staff's ability to respond with patience and knowledge when supporting people. Staff used specialist training to successfully manage situations where people were distressed without the use of physical restraint. This was also recognised by the Restraint Reduction Network whom Vida Court had an accreditation with.

The service regularly reviewed people’s needs and worked with relatives and other professionals to ensure any barriers were overcome.

The service truly enriched people's lives by helping people to fulfil wishes and aspirations no matter how big or small. Staff helped people to relive memories, such as festive holidays and special events and encouraged people to make new memories with loved ones, such as organising birthday parties and inviting them to activities taking place in the home.

Collaboration with external professionals had led to significant improvements in people’s health. This included increased acceptance of support with personal care leading to a reduction in the use of chemical restraint medication.

Person-centred care was echoed throughout the service, and this included how people wished to be cared for at the end stages of their lives.

People, relatives and staff told us the service was led by an exceptional management team and their visions and values were at the heart of the service. The management team used every opportunity to develop, discuss, promote and implement innovative ways of involving people in developing a high quality, outstanding service.

Staff described an inclusive, open working environment and they were extremely proud to work at Vida Court. There was a strong framework of accountability by the management team to monitor performance and risk.

Staff developed positive, trusting relationships with people that helped to keep them safe. Systems and processes were established and followed to ensure any safeguarding concerns were appropriately reported.

Staff were well supported to ensure they had the skills and knowledge to carry out their role to a high standard. The training facilities available not only provide staff with learning opportunities, but they also allow people living at Vida Court the opportunity to contribute and reflect.

Safe recruitment processes were in place and thoroughly followed to ensure only suitable staff were employed and people were encouraged to be part of the recruitment process. There was enough staff on duty to ensure all aspects of people’s care and support needs could be delivered in a person-centred way.

The design and décor of the home had been carefully considered the construction stage to ensure it was reflective of best practice guidance in relation to supporting people living with dementia.

People’s cultural and personal needs were fully considered by staff who were kind, caring and showed empathy towards people and their relatives.

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 Care Quality Commission website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 18 October 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.