Background to this inspection
Updated
1 November 2017
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
This inspection took place on 12 September 2017 and was unannounced.
The inspection was carried out by three 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.
Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We looked at information we held about the service which included previous inspection reports and notifications. Providers are required under the law to send notifications to CQC relating to specific events.
During the inspection we spoke with 17 people, five relatives and three visitors. We spoke with the registered manager, the deputy manager, two nurses, two care staff, an activities coordinator and the chef. We looked at four people's care records, three staff files and a range of records relating to the management of the service.
Updated
1 November 2017
The inspection took place on 12 September 2017. The Old Vicarage is a care home supporting up to 59 people with personal and nursing care. This includes support for people living with dementia. On the day of our inspection there were 44 people using the service.
People benefitted from support provided by staff who were extremely kind and compassionate. Staff were caring in their approach to people and throughout the inspection we saw people being treated with dignity and respect. Staff took time with people, reassuring and calming them when they became anxious.
There was a caring culture throughout the service that ensured people were at the centre of the service. This culture was promoted throughout the staff team.
The service provided excellent end of life care. People were treated with dignity and respect, ensuring they remained pain free and comfortable at the end of their life. Relatives were supported throughout and the service had a chapel which provided a seamless path for relatives dealing with a person's death. The service was accredited to the Gold Standards Framework and had attained a platinum rating recognising their outstanding support for end of life care.
People were supported by a service that had systems in place to keep them safe. Medicines were managed safely to ensure people received their medicines as prescribed. There were effective recruitment procedures in place to ensure staff were fit to work with vulnerable people.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People were complimentary about the food and the provider ensured people had food and drink to meet their dietary needs.
Staff were supported through regular supervision. Staff had access to development opportunities and felt valued for the support they provided.
There was a wide range of activities available and people were encouraged to be involved in developing an activity programme that interested them.
The registered manager promoted a culture that valued everyone involved in the service as individuals. There were effective systems in place to monitor and improve the service which included seeking feedback from people which was used to drive improvement.