Background to this inspection
Updated
20 January 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
Two adult social care inspectors completed the site visit and an Expert by Experience spoke to people and their relatives by phone. An 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
Wenham Holt 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 CQC. 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 reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service.
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We gathered this information as part of the inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with nine people who used the service and one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 10 members of staff including both providers (one of whom was also the registered manager), nurses, care and ancillary staff. We spoke with two professionals who were visiting 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 reviewed records relating to people’s medicines and health and safety.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at three people’s care records, three staff recruitment records, training data and quality assurance records.
We spoke with a further two people and 14 relatives. We also spoke with or received written feedback on the service from a further 13 day and night staff. We spoke with one of the two GPs for the service.
Updated
20 January 2022
About the service
Wenham Holt Nursing Home is a family run nursing home for up to 50 people. The home provides nursing care and rehabilitation to older and younger adults, some of whom may also be living with dementia, a physical disability or a learning disability. At the time of our inspection there were 42 people living at Wenham Holt. There is a 16 bed continuing healthcare unit which is part of the home.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People told us they felt well cared for by staff. People’s feedback included, “The staff are really nice and caring here” and “Definitely. I like living here.”
The providers had systems and processes in place to safeguard people from the risk of abuse. Staff assessed risks to people and supported them to stay safe, whilst respecting their rights. There were sufficient numbers of suitable staff to support people safely. People’s medicines were managed safely. The providers had processes in place to minimise the risk of people acquiring an infection.
People’s care needs were assessed and their treatment and support was delivered in line with guidance, standards and legislation. Staff had the required skills, knowledge and experience to deliver people’s care effectively. Staff supported people to eat a varied and balanced diet. Staff worked across organisations and ensured people’s healthcare needs were identified and met. The service was well decorated and maintained and people had access to ample space both indoors and outside.
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.
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.
Right support
• Model of care and setting maximises people’s choice, control and independence. People were supported to make their own decisions about how they wanted their care provided wherever possible. People had an advocate to represent their views if required and who had oversight of how their care was provided. People had regular contact with both members of their family and significant people where they wished.
Right care
• Care is person-centred and promotes people’s dignity, privacy and human rights. People received person-centred care, based on their interests and preferences about their care. Staff cared about people and ensured they were cared for with dignity. They understood and upheld people’s human rights.
Right culture
• Ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff ensure people using services lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives. Staff had received relevant training to enable them to support people in a person-centred manner. The provider matched the skills of specific staff to people when allocating who was to work with them. Staff worked well with external services to ensure people’s health and social care needs were identified and met.
People were treated with kindness, respect and compassion. Staff supported people to express their views and to be involved in decisions about their care. Staff ensured people’s privacy, dignity and independence were respected.
People received personalised care which was tailored to meet their identified needs. Staff supported people to identify their interests and to engage in relevant activities. Staff worked with other professionals to ensure people were appropriately supported at the end of their lives.
The providers promoted a positive culture, focused on achieving good outcomes for people. They had processes in place to enable them to monitor the quality of the care provided against current guidance and to identify areas for improvement. Incidents were reviewed to identify any learning. People were provided with information about how to raise any concerns. Staff worked openly with other agencies to support the delivery of people’s care.
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 this service was good (published 11 October 2017).
Why we inspected
We undertook this inspection as part of a random selection of services rated good and outstanding to test the reliability of our new monitoring approach.
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.