Veracity Healthcare is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to people in their own accommodation. The service supports people with a variety of needs including older and younger adults and people living with dementia. The service also supports people with intermediate care whilst their longer-term support needs are assessed and organised. At the time of our inspection there were 25 people using the service. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. The Care Quality Commission (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 to monitor and improve the service were not fully established. Although some audits had taken place, the governance system was not robust and had not identified areas for improvement, such as records requiring further information and person-centred care planning. We have made a recommendation about governance systems.
Risk assessments were in place but required further information to ensure risks were reduced. Risk assessments for staff and people in relation to COVID-19 were not in place. The provider took action to address this during the inspection. People were happy with the support they received with their medicines. However, some work was required to ensure best practice was fully embedded.
People were supported to access health and social care services. Staff supported people with their nutrition where required. 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 had developed good relationships with staff that supported them. Staff were kind and caring in their approach and ensured people’s privacy and dignity was maintained.
People told us they were happy with the support they received from the service. Complaints had been investigated and responded to in line with the provider’s policy.
Staff received an induction which included training and shadowing. They felt supported by the management team and were positive about the support they had received by the provider in helping them with transport to work. Staff meetings were held regularly to ensure effective communication and support for staff.
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 06 December 2019 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.