Walcot Hall Nursing Home

Updated 30 December 2021

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

This inspection was undertaken by two inspectors.

Service and service type

Walcot Hall Nursing Home 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. Inspection activity started on 9 December 2021 and ended on 17 December 2021. We visited Walcot Hall Nursing Home on 9 December 2021

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. 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 five people who used the service and four relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with a visiting professional during the inspection. We spoke with eleven members of staff including the provider, registered manager, assistant manager, senior care workers, care workers and the chef. We undertook some observations as a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with two professionals who regularly visit the service.

Updated 30 December 2021

About the service

Walcot Hall Nursing Home is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to 37 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 42 people.

Walcot Hall Nursing Home is a large adapted period house on the outskirts of a village and has extensive and pleasant grounds for people to enjoy. There are communal dining and recreation areas. Accommodation is arranged on two floors.

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

People were safe, risks were assessed, monitored and well managed. Staffing levels met people's personalised care needs. Staff followed good practice guidelines to prevent the spread of infection and gave people their medicines safely. The service was clean and tidy. People were supported to access health and social care professionals.

People received enough food to eat and a selection of drinks were available. People’s dietary needs were assessed, and guidance was available for staff within care plans. A relative told us, "[Family member] has not got a good appetite, but staff provide lots of alternatives to encourage them to eat.”

There were various activities available for people to engage in as they wished. People were supported with their interests, and links with the community were maintained where possible following government guidance for COVID -19. Families were welcomed to the service. There was a complaints procedure in place and the provider responded to complaints appropriately.

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 and relatives told us staff were kind and caring. Care plans contained personalised detailed information to guide staff. The management team reviewed the care and support provided to people. The registered manager carried out regular checks on the quality and safety of the service and understood their regulatory responsibilities. People gave positive feedback about the management. One person said, "The registered manager's door is always open, we are all always greeted with a smile." Staff were positive about the registered manager, who they said was open and supportive.

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 the service under the previous provider was good published on 5 February 2020.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection due to a change in provider.

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 until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.