The Old Rectory Care Home

Updated 16 March 2021

The inspection

This was a targeted inspection to check whether the provider had met the requirements of the specific concern we had about safeguarding people from abuse and infection control procedures. We will assess all of the key question at the next comprehensive inspection of the service.

Inspection team

This inspection was undertaken by two inspectors. One inspector visited the home, another made phone calls to people’s relatives.

Service and service type

The Old Rectory is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was announced. We announced the inspection the day before we visited to ensure that the registered manager would be available when we visited.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection. We had requested information from the provider prior to the inspection and this information was used as part of the inspection plan.

During the inspection

We spoke with 6 members of staff including the registered manager.

After the inspection

We continued to seek information from the registered manager to validate evidence found. We spoke to four people’s relatives to gain feedback about their family member’s care and visiting arrangements to the home.

Updated 16 March 2021

About the service: The Old Rectory is registered to provide accommodation with personal care for up to 23 older people, who may be living with dementia. There were 18 people living at the home at the time of our visit, one person was in hospital. Care is provided across two floors and communal areas were located on the ground floor. Not all bedrooms were ensuite.

People’s experience of using this service:

People told us that they were happy living at The Old Rectory and were supported by staff who were kind, caring and supportive. Staff understood people’s concerns and were quick to offer reassurance which helped reduce people’s anxiety.

Risk assessments managed risks within people’s lives and staff knew how to keep people safe from those risks.

People’s dietary needs, preferences and nutritional needs were assessed and known by staff and when needed, people were referred to other professionals to support their healthcare needs.

People received their medicines safely from trained and competent staff.

There were sufficient numbers of care staff on duty to keep people safe, with staff continually present in the main communal lounge to ensure people had support available to them when needed. The registered manager and deputy manager could support staff on the floor if emergencies happened.

Staff had training in relevant subjects and they knew their roles and responsibilities, such as safeguarding people from poor practice.

People continued to have 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.

Staff knew people well and supported people in line with their care plan. Care plan records were reviewed but in some cases, needed ‘the small’ but more personalised information for staff to provide the person-centred care, staff told us about.

People pursued opportunities to engage in activities and interests that kept them stimulated and involved in what they enjoyed. Plans to improve outdoor garden space would further enhance opportunities.

Since the last inspection visit, the registered manager had changed and had managed this service for 18 months. The registered manager had implemented and improved a number of quality assurance systems and checks that gave them confidence, people received a good service.

People, relatives and staff said the registered manager and deputy manager were visible and approachable. Staff said changes particularly over the last 12 months were for the better. Staff felt they worked better as a team which helped ensure people received good and consistent care.

The registered manager had further plans to improve upon the changes already made. The registered manager was working with other organisations and healthcare professionals to improve outcomes for people.

We found the service met the characteristics of a “Good” rating in five areas. For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection: Good. (The last report for The Old Rectory was published on 7 September 2016).

Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection. The previous ‘good’ service provided to people continued. The overall rating continues to be Good.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.

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