Virginia Water Care Home

We found the following examples of good practice.

The registered manager had put systems in place to book visitors in at a time that suited people and required visitors to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in order to reduce the risk of potential infection transmission. People who used the service and their relatives had access to a visiting room with a clear separating screen and a microphone system. This meant that when there were cases of COVID-19 in the service, people were still able to continue seeing their relatives and friends.

There were systems in place to check staff working in the service and visiting professionals had received their COVID-19 vaccinations before being deployed. The service had managed workforce pressures to ensure people were supported by a consistent staff team that was effectively deployed.

The premises were clean and well-maintained. Staff had increased the frequency of cleaning at the start of the pandemic including frequently touched points such as door handles, pendants and remote controls. The registered manager had allocated care staff to work on particular floors to reduce the risk of potential infection transmission.

The management team had ensured there was sufficient PPE available in the event of an outbreak. There was PPE available throughout the premises along with appropriate waste disposal facilities. PPE in the home was stored in creative ways to ensure staff had quick access, to reduce the risk of contamination and to reduce the aesthetic impact of standard PPE stations on people who used the service. The registered manager had ensured regular ‘spot checks’ and a daily walkaround were undertaken to ensure staff were using the appropriate PPE.

The registered manager had liaised with appropriate agencies such as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) when people tested positive for COVID-19. We saw posters across the home reminding staff of best practice guidance in relation to infection prevention and control.

Sunrise of Virginia Water was a residential care home that was providing accommodation and personal care for up to 92 older people, some who may also be living with dementia. There were 75 people living in the home at the time of our inspection. The home was laid out over three floors, with one floor focused on independent living and a lower ground floor which provided specialist support to people living with dementia.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found:

People and their relatives were very positive about the service and the care provided.

People were cared for by staff who knew how to keep them safe and protect them from avoidable harm. People received their medicines regularly and systems were in place for the safe management of medicines.

Incidents and accidents were investigated, and actions were taken to prevent recurrence. Enough staff were available to meet people's needs and people told us when they needed assistance, staff responded promptly. The premises were clean, and staff followed infection control and prevention procedures.

The service continued to be effective. People's needs were assessed, and care was planned and delivered to meet legislation and good practice guidance. Care was delivered by staff who were well trained and knowledgeable about people's care and support needs.

People's dignity, confidentiality and privacy were respected, and their independence was promoted. People's rights to make their own decisions were respected. 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 were encouraged to maintain a good diet and access health services when required. People had access to a wide range of activities and were supported to avoid social isolation.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection:

The last rating for this service was Good (published 31 January 2016).

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.