The Worthies

Updated 27 January 2022

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of COVID-19, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice is safe and that services are compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 08 January 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24-hour notice of the inspection.

Updated 27 January 2022

The inspection was completed on the 8 and 10 May 2018 and was unannounced. The service was last inspected in September 2017 and was rated as requires improvement. This inspection was brought forward because we had received concerns from two whistle blowers and the local authority. The concerns related to how people were being cared for, the culture of the home and some environmental concerns. They also raised concerns about a high turnover of staff who were in a senior management role. The provider and registered manager had taken action and was addressing these concerns prior to the inspection. They had drafted in some additional management support to assist with the improvements needed.

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

The Worthies provides personal care and accommodation for up to 26 older people. At the time of our inspection there were 23 people living at the home.

There was a registered manager in post. They were also responsible for another registered home, which was in close proximity to The Worthies. 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.’

The provider had made improvements in respect of the breaches found at the inspection in September 2107. What they told us they would do in their action plan they had completed. Further action plans had been developed in conjunction with the local safeguarding team and these were being implemented with assistance from the additional management support. The additional management support was from registered managers employed by the provider who worked at other services owned by the provider.

People were receiving care that was effective and responsive to their changing needs. Care plans were in place that described how the person would like to be supported and these were kept under review. People’s medicines were managed safely and improvements had been made since our last inspection. This included regular checks, which provided the provider with assurances and addressed any shortfalls promptly.

People had access to healthcare professionals when they became unwell or required specialist help. People were encouraged to be independent and were encouraged to participate in activities in the home and the local community.

People were treated in a dignified, caring manner, which demonstrated that their rights were protected. People confirmed their involvement in decisions about their care. Where people lacked the capacity to make choices and decisions, staff ensured people’s rights were protected. This was done by involving relatives or other professionals in the decision making process.

Staff were knowledgeable about the people they were supporting and spoke about them in a caring way. Staff had received suitable training enabling them to deliver safe and effective care. Further training was being organised in May 2018 to provide staff with updates. People were protected because staff went through a thorough recruitment process. Regular staff meetings were taking place. Staff were supervised on a one to one basis. This had recently improved with staff receiving these every two months instead of three monthly.

Sufficient staff supported people living at The Worthies and this was kept under review. People’s views were sought about the service. Surveys were also completed by relatives and staff.

The quality of the service was regularly reviewed by the provider/registered manager and staff. The registered manager was aware of the areas that required improvement with an action plan in place.