The Old Rectory

Updated 9 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 was carried out by two inspectors and an assistant inspector.

Service and service type

The Old Rectory 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 looked at all the information we had received about and from the home 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 met with all of the people living at the service and spoke with two people in detail. Not all people could speak with us about their experience of living at the service. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. We also spoke with four visitors about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with nine staff including the registered manager and provider, care staff and housekeeping staff. We also spent time observing care and support in communal areas and saw lunch served in the dining room.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people's care records and their medication records.

We also held a remote video call with the registered manager to discuss the governance arrangements at the home.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the registered manager to validate evidence found. The registered manager sent us documentation electronically including staff training information, supervision records and a range of records used to monitor the quality and safety of the service. We sought feedback from six professionals who work with the service and received feedback from four. We received feedback from two relatives.

We continued to review the information we received from the service and feedback from relatives and professionals until 5 January 2021.

Updated 9 February 2022

About the service

The Old Rectory is a residential care home for up to 25 people in an adapted property. There were 21 people living in the home at the time of our visit, the majority of whom were living with dementia.

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

People felt safe and were comfortable and relaxed with staff who supported them. Relatives told us they felt their family members were safe and very well cared for. Throughout the inspection we saw kind, relaxed, compassionate and caring interactions between people and staff. We observed that staff were respectful of people and took time to offer support and reassurance when needed.

There were enough staff to meet people’s needs and there was a core of staff who had worked at the home for a number of years. Staff understood and anticipated people’s needs which contributed to the calm atmosphere at the home.

Staff knew people well and how to identify, assess and mitigate any risks to their safety. Medicines were managed safely and effectively by staff who were trained and competent to do so.

Staff received frequent training, support and supervision and felt supported by the registered manager and provider.

People were supported to maintain a balanced diet. Staff were aware of people's likes and dislikes and any allergies and special diets.

People were supported to maintain their independence and have maximum choice and control in their lives. Where people lacked mental capacity to make decisions, these were made in line with the Mental Capacity Act and staff supported people in the least restrictive way; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Care plans were person centred and they detailed how people wished and needed to be cared for. There was a happy relaxed atmosphere with a wide variety of activities and social stimulation for people. People were able to make choices about their day to day lives and were encouraged to continue to follow their interests.

There was an open and positive culture within the home and people, their relatives, staff and professionals told us the registered manager was approachable and helpful. There were robust management arrangements in place and systems to monitor the quality and safety of the service provided.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for the service under the previous legal entity was Good, published on 8 January 2019.

Why we inspected

This was a comprehensive inspection based on the date the provider was registered with the Care Quality Commission.

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 The Old Rectory on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

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.