- Homecare service
Versita Care Ltd
We served two warning notices on Versita Care Ltd on 3rd March 2025 for failure to meet the regulations related to safe care and the management of effective quality control systems at Versita Care Ltd.
Report from 8 January 2025 assessment
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of Assessment: 20 January 2025 to 04 February 2025. Versita Care Ltd
is a supported living and homecare service although it is only providing supported living. It can provide support to people with a learning disability, children aged 0-18 and adults aged under 65. The service is also supporting people with a mental health diagnosis, although it does not have this service user band. This was a responsive inspection of all 5 key questions triggered by our ongoing monitoring of the service. We have assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. People had mixed experiences and outcomes. Whilst most people with a learning disability experienced good care overall, some people with a mental health diagnosis were at risk of avoidable harm. Staff lacked the skills and knowledge required to support some people safely. There was a lack of a robust understanding of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the Deprivation if Liberty Safeguards (DoLs). People’s consent to their care had not always been sought or had been sought incorrectly. Governance systems were not robust. However, overall, the service was caring. The provider was open to feedback and has started to make the required improvements. We found 4 new breaches of regulations in relation to safe care and treatment, safeguarding, consent and good governance and a continuing breach of requirements relating to workers. In instances where CQC have decided to take civil or criminal enforcement action against a provider, we will publish this information on our website after any representations and/ or appeals have been concluded.
People's experience of this service
We spoke with people, relatives and professionals about the care provided. We made observations, during the day or evening at 3 of the 4 locations where people were supported. We received differing views about the service across the five key questions. We were told of concerns in relation to the lack of effective staff training, skills and experience. To enable staff to support people with some mental health diagnoses safely, and to fully understand their care and support needs. Some relatives were not assured of the safety of their loved one’s home environment or that they were kept fully informed of safety issues. Feedback included, “It feels very unsafe.” Not everyone felt their loved ones were in the right place for their care needs to be met or that staff always worked well with external partners. We were told staff, although kind and caring overall, were not always able to anticipate and respond effectively to some people’s signs of distress. Some people we were told were engaged well by staff with activities of their choice and others less so. However, some people and relatives were happy with the care and support provided and gave positive feedback across the five key questions. Some relatives said their loved one’s needs, including their communication needs were understood well by staff. Relatives felt staff’s knowledge of how to care for people with certain diagnoses was good. We were told of how some people had experienced good outcomes for their care with the support provided and were given examples of how staff had collaborated well with professionals. People and relatives all said there were sufficient numbers of staff to support people. They told us agency staff were not used and people received continuity of care. Everyone agreed staff supported people to have regular contact with their families. Everyone knew the leaders and who to speak with if they wished to raise an issue. We were told there were regular reviews of people’s care.