CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Veryan Place
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Staff understood safeguarding procedures and people's individual risks. Medicines, infection control, recruitment and incident monitoring were managed through established systems.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had appropriate training and understood people's needs. People were supported with food, healthcare, communication and decisions about their care.
- Caring?
- Good
- Inspectors saw staff treating people with warmth, kindness, dignity and respect. People were supported to communicate, make choices and develop independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Support plans reflected people's preferences, interests and communication needs. People were supported to maintain relationships, take part in activities and raise complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The management team was described as approachable and committed to good outcomes. Audits, feedback and professional partnerships were used to monitor and improve the service.
What inspectors found, October 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with all five areas rated Good.
This was a planned inspection on 12 September 2023. One inspector visited the home, spoke with two people, five relatives and five staff, and checked care records, staff recruitment files and management records.
The home supports up to three younger or older people with learning disabilities and/or autism. Inspectors found that people were safe, treated with kindness and supported to make choices and build independence.
Care plans were personalised and staff understood people's communication, health and emotional needs. Medicines, infection control, safeguarding, staffing and risks were managed safely.
All five CQC areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was the same overall rating as at the previous inspection, published on 21 November 2017.
Personalised support
Support plans gave staff clear guidance while helping people remain as independent as possible. People and relatives were involved in planning care.
“Personalised support plans gave clear information for staff to follow in keeping people safe, whilst enabling people to be as independent as possible.” from the report
Choice and independence
Staff supported people to make decisions, take positive risks and build confidence. The report says people had maximum choice and control over their lives.
“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.” from the report
Consistent staff team
People were supported by staff who knew them well and had built trusting relationships. Keyworker arrangements helped provide continuity.
“People received care and support from a consistent team of staff.” from the report
Communication support
Staff used communication profiles, symbols and picture cards to help people express their needs, make choices and take part in daily planning.
“Staff communicated with people in their preferred way and were skilled in active listening and responding to nonverbal communication, body language and sounds.” from the report
Complaints handled promptly
People and relatives knew how to complain and felt concerns would be acted on. The home also had easy-read complaints information.
“Complaints were investigated and responded to appropriately and promptly.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you adapt support for my relative's particular communication style and emotional needs?
- 02How do you involve residents and relatives when care plans and risk assessments are reviewed?
- 03How do you support people to develop independence while managing risks safely?
- 04How would you support my relative with their specific healthcare, eating or swallowing needs?
- 05How do you monitor medicines and learn from accidents, incidents or safeguarding concerns?
This was a planned inspection covering all five CQC key questions and infection prevention and control; the previous overall rating was Good and remained unchanged. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 October 2023 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, November 2017
Veryan Place was rated Good; inspectors found safe, respectful and personalised care, with the rating unchanged since 2015.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 19 October 2017. One inspector spoke with one person using the service, three support workers and the registered manager. They reviewed three care records, three staff files and other management documents.
The home supported three people with autism and learning disabilities. Inspectors found suitable risk plans, enough staff, safe medicines systems and appropriate recruitment checks. Staff had training and supervision, and people were supported with food, healthcare and daily choices.
Inspectors saw kind and respectful relationships. Care plans contained detailed information about people's preferences and routines. People could choose activities, change their minds and raise complaints.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This meant the home remained Good compared with the previous inspection in September 2015.
Detailed risk planning
The home assessed known risks and gave staff clear strategies for supporting people safely while promoting independence.
“Detailed assessments of every known area of risk and behaviour were completed, with clear guidelines and strategies for staff to follow.” from the report
Respect for choices
Staff gave people time to communicate and respected changes to their plans, routines and activities.
“People were given the time they needed to communicate and make decisions.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans recorded personal preferences and were reviewed with the people receiving care.
“Care plans were regularly reviewed and updated as required, and people confirmed that they were involved in this process.” from the report
Positive management
The manager was present and knowledgeable, while staff described an open and supportive team culture.
“The service had a positive atmosphere and an open culture.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are each person's current risks and support strategies assessed and reviewed?
- 02How do you make sure there are enough staff for each person's planned level of support?
- 03How are medicines currently stored, administered and checked in the records?
- 04How are people and their families involved when care plans and weekly activity plans are reviewed?
- 05How are complaints, survey feedback and audit findings used to make improvements?
This was an unannounced inspection of the overall service, covering all five CQC questions and reviewing care records, staff files and management documents. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 November 2017 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Veryan Place
3 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- October 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 3 April 2013.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Milton Keynes
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £980 to £1,260 a week. 90 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“We can all fully relax around Nyarai and she feels like part of our family, which is no mean feat!”
“She was v competent and confident and we felt our mum was safe in her care. She supported us through a difficult time.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.