Wirral Christian Centre Trust Limited

Updated 11 February 2022

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection team consisted of two 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.

Service and service type

Wirral Christian Centre Trust Limited 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 unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals 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.

During the inspection

We spoke with seven people who used the service and six relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the registered manager and three other members of staff to gain their feedback.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to safe recruitment and a variety of records relating to the safety and management of the service were also reviewed, including health and safety checks, audits and COVID-19 testing and procedures.

After the inspection

We reviewed further information provided electronically, including policies and procedures, staff training records and staff rotas. We gained feedback from other health professionals who work with the service.

Updated 11 February 2022

About the service

Wirral Christian Centre Trust Limited is a 'care home' otherwise known as Orton House. Orton House is registered to provide accommodation for up to 39 older people. At the time of our inspection, there were 22 people living in the home, some of whom were living with dementia.

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

We found medicines were not always managed safely. The temperature of the area the medicines were stored was not monitored and guidance regarding the covert administration of medicines was not always clearly recorded. Not all staff who administered medicines were fully aware of all procedures in place, such as homely remedies and guidance for medicines given as and when required. Staff had however undertaken medication training and had their competency assessed.

A range of new audits had been implemented to help monitor the quality and safety of the service.

They were completed regularly and when issues had been identified, they had been addressed. However, they did not highlight the medicine issues we found during the inspection.

People and their relatives told us Orton House was a safe place to live. There were enough staff available to support people in a timely way, who had been safely recruited and were knowledgeable about safeguarding procedures. One person told us, “I’m happy here. The staff are wonderful, they’re caring, they’re all lovely. I’m perfectly safe.”

Individual risks to people had been assessed and measures taken to reduce any identified risks. Most people’s records were up to date and guided staff on how best to support people. People’s temperatures were monitored to check for any potential early signs of COVID-19, but these checks needed to be increased to twice daily in line with government guidance.

Infection control arrangements were in place to prevent and mitigate the risk of COVID-19. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) was available and staff were seen to use this appropriately. There was a COVID-19 testing schedule in place in line with government guidance. The provider had systems in place to ensure the vaccination as a condition of deployment regulation was met.

Feedback regarding the management and quality of service people received was extremely positive from staff, people living in the home and their relatives. Everybody described improvements that have been made within the home. One relative told us, “Since the new manager came it’s improved by leaps and bounds.” Staff said they enjoyed their jobs, were well supported and would recommend the home. The registered manager was very responsive to the feedback provided during the inspection.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was inadequate (published 24 August 2021). Breaches of regulation were identified in relation to risk management, infection prevention and control, the management of medicines and the governance of the service. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection, we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulation regarding the governance of the service, but further improvements were still required to ensure the safe management of medicines.

This service has been in Special Measures since 8 January 2021. During this inspection the provider demonstrated improvements have been made. The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures.

Why we inspected

This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Wirral Christian Centre Trust Limited on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Enforcement

We have identified breaches in relation to the management of medicines at this inspection. Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will ask the provider to complete an action plan to inform us how they will make the necessary improvements and by when. 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.