Walton Park Care Home

Updated 11 August 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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 was carried out by 3 inspectors and an Expert by Experience. 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

Walton Park Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Walton Park Care Home is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post. There was a home manager who was in the process of completing CQC registration application.

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. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 4 people and 6 relatives about their experience of care. We interacted with another 8 people using the service who were not able to provide full feedback about their experiences and we observed how staff supported people. We spoke with 14 members of staff including the nominated individual, the home manager, deputy manager, senior care staff, care and ancillary staff. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We reviewed a range of records. This included 4 people's care plans and multiple medicines records for people. We looked at recruitment checks for 3 staff members. A variety of records relating to the management of the home, including training, staff rosters, audits, meeting records and an action plan were also reviewed.

Updated 11 August 2023

About the service

Walton Park Care Home is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care support to up to 35 people. The home provides support to older people living with physical and health related support needs, some of whom also live with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 23 people using the service.

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

There were multiple changes in the management team in the home and a new home manager had started not long before the inspection. Governance and oversight processes in place had overall improved but were not yet fully embedded and effective. Although improvements had been made to the care people were receiving, the home and its culture, not all actions had been completed yet and some audits were not yet fully effective in identifying issues promptly.

People and their relatives told us the home was safe. Staff were recruited safely, there was enough staff to meet people’s needs and consistency of the staff team had improved since the last inspection. People were safely supported around their medicines, individual risks and infection prevention and control.

Staff knew people’s needs and risks and any individual changes were discussed with people, their representatives and healthcare professionals to find best ways to support them safely. People had individual care plans in place and staff were trained to provide the care they needed. People received personalised care and support and had regular opportunities to express their wishes.

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 supported to host visitors and the offer of things to do and home events was being reviewed and improved at the time of the inspection. The home environment continued to improve with an extensive refurbishment work underway.

People and their relatives told us staff were caring, compassionate and respectful. Staff felt supported by the home management and listened to. The home worked with other health and social care professionals.

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 requires improvement (published 28 February 2023).

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 regulations.

At our last inspection we recommended the provider to review the way they had recorded MCA and 'best interest decisions' to ensure the records clearly indicated how the MCA Code of Practice had been followed. At this inspection we found the provider had made improvements.

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.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.