Archived: The Old Vicarage

Updated 28 January 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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 23 and 24 November 2015 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of one inspector.

The service was previously inspected on 27 February 2014 when it was found to be fully compliant with the regulations. Prior to the inspection we reviewed the Provider Information Record (PIR) and previous inspection reports. The PIR 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 also reviewed the information we held about the service and notifications we had received. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

During the inspection we met and spoke with the seven people who used the service, three relatives who were visiting, ten members of care staff, two managers, four volunteers, the provider and four health professionals who regularly visited the service. In addition we observed staff supporting people throughout the home and used our Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI) during the lunchtime meal. SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. We also inspected a range of records. These included four care plans, three staff files, training records, staff duty rotas, meeting minutes and the services policies and procedures.

Updated 28 January 2016

The service provided accommodation and personal care for up to 41 predominantly older people. This service did not provide nursing care. At the time of our inspection there were 37 people using the service.

The registered manager had resigned in the month prior to our inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. The provider had reviewed the service’s management structure and had at the time of our inspection decided to put forward both of the services existing care mangers for registration.

We carried out this unannounced inspection on 23 and 24 November 2015. The service was previously inspected in February 2014 when it was found to be fully compliant with the regulations.

Everyone we spoke with told us they were safe, comfortable and well cared for at The Old Vicarage. People told us; “I am safe here”, “the staff are wonderful, caring and compassionate” and, “They look after me beautifully. Relatives commented, “people are definitely safe here” and, “they are incredibly patient and caring with [my relative].”

People’s care plans were personalised, up to date and accurately reflected their individual care and support needs. These documents provided staff with clear guidance on the level of support each person required and comprehensive risk assessments designed ensure people’s safety while enabling people to take risks in order to maintain their independence. Staff provided care compassionately and respected people’s choices and decisions.

Each person’s care plan included highly detailed information about their life history, hobbies and interests designed to help staff see people as individuals with specific likes and preferences. The service’s activities team was working with volunteers on a project to develop interactive life history presentations.

We found there were sufficient skilled staff available at all times to meet people’s care needs. Staff received regular formal training and innovative techniques, designed to provide staff with an insight into what it was like to need care’ were included in the services induction training.

Staff and volunteers were highly motivated and demonstrated throughout our inspection a clear commitment to provide dignified and compassionate support. The provider was a strong role model and demonstrated both a detailed understanding of people’s care needs and evident concern for their individual welfare. People told us; “The positive atmosphere is created by the boss who is excellent” and, “[the provider] put us completely at ease.” While staff said; “[the provider] is a good boss, very fair” and, “I love [the provider] she is fab with the residents.”

People were involved in village life and the wide selection of activities available within the service. People told us; “it’s great fun here”, “the activities are fantastic” and, “We are very fortunate indeed with our activities coordinator.”

People told us the Old Vicarage was, “spotlessly clean” and we found the service was well maintained with light and warm communal areas. People were able to decorate their rooms with their own furniture and other personal items. The service had extensive well maintained gardens including areas designed to enable people who used wheel chairs to enjoy gardening.

Where people lacked the capacity to make specific decisions the service had consistently acted in the person’s best interests involving family members and heath professional in these decision making processes when appropriate.

Mealtimes were relaxed and social events at The Old Vicarage and people told us; “the cook is first class”, “we can have a nice little drink of wine when we want one” and, “if I don’t fancy what’s on the menu they will make me something else.” All meals were freshly prepared in the services kitchens from local ingredients. Where people required support with their meals this was provide discreetly by care staff.

The service worked well with local healthcare providers to ensure people’s care needs were met. All of the professional we spoke with were highly complementary of the service and told us; “I would choose to come here myself”, “It does stand out from those I visit”, “and, “I would recommend it and would be happy for one of my family to come here.”

The service had achieved “beacon” status under the Gold Standards Framework for its innovative and established good practice in meeting people’s needs at the end of their lives. Relatives described as “extraordinary” the care and support staff had provided their relatives at the end of their lives.

The Old Vicarage had won numerous national accolades. Recently received awards included, best menu, best arts activity, best apprentice and pet friendly home of the year.

None of the people we spoke had ever felt the need to complain about the quality of care they received. People’s told us; “I have absolutely no complaints” and, “there is nothing here to find fault with and you cannot say that about many places.” Responses to a recent survey of people who used the service were universally complimentary.