Archived: The Old Vicarage

Updated 23 June 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 6 May 2016 and was carried out by one adult social care inspector.

There were 15 people living in the home at the time of our inspection. During the inspection we spoke with nine people who lived in the home, one visitor, three members of the care team, the care manager and the registered manager. We also spoke with two health care professionals who supported people who lived in the home. We observed care and support in communal areas and looked at the care records for five people. We also looked at records that related to how the home was managed.

The registered manager of the home had 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. Before our inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service, including the information in the PIR. We also contacted local social work and commissioning teams to obtain their views about the service.

Updated 23 June 2016

We carried out this inspection on 6 May 2016. The inspection was unannounced. We last inspected this service in June 2014. At that inspection we found that the provider was meeting all of the regulations that we assessed.

The Old Vicarage provides accommodation for up to nineteen people who need assistance with their personal care. The service provides support to older people and to older people living with dementia. The home has thirteen single bedrooms and three double rooms that two people can choose to share. Communal space is provided in the form of a sitting room, dining room and conservatory.

The home provides full time, permanent accommodation and respite care for people who would benefit from a short period of residential care.

There was a registered manager employed at the home. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Everyone we spoke with told us that people were well cared for in this home and said they would recommend it to other people.

The staff were caring and patient and knew people in the home well. People were included in decisions about their care and the decisions they made were respected.

The staff were well trained and knew how to keep people safe.

People were provided with a range of activities that they enjoyed. They chose whether to take part in activities and their wishes were respected.

Visitors were made welcome in the home and people could see their friends and relatives as they wanted.

People received their medicines as they needed and were supported to receive appropriate health care.

People were provided with meals and drinks that they enjoyed.

The home was well managed. The registered manager was supported by a care manager and senior care staff. People knew the registered manager and care manager and could speak to them if they had any concerns about their care.

The registered manager was knowledgeable about the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and how to protect people’s rights.

The home was clean and free from odour. The registered manager had a plan for the continued maintenance and improvement of the environment. However, the surfaces of the walls and floor in the laundry area were permeable which would make them difficult to clean thoroughly.

We have made a recommendation about maintaining hygiene standards in the home’s laundry area.