We carried out a review of the data available to us about Valerie Manor on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Valerie Manor, you can give feedback on this service.
Valerie Manor is a residential nursing home, registered to provide nursing care and accommodation for up to 23 people with a range of health and care needs, including physical frailty of old age and some people in the early stages of dementia. At the time of our inspection, the home was fully occupied. Valerie Manor is a 17th Century house with a purpose built nursing wing set within 1.4 acres of beautifully landscaped accessible gardens. All accommodation is on the ground floor. To access the nursing wing, there are a few steps and an open platform lift. Rooms in the nursing wing have en-suite facilities and overhead tracked hoists. Communal areas include a conservatory/living room, dining room, quiet lounge or snug and a library.
A registered manager was in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission 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.
Ensuring that people were and felt safe at Valerie Manor was of paramount importance. People were asked what would make them feel safe and actions were taken as needed. Safety was discussed at residents’ meetings and through annual surveys with people and their relatives. Staff had completed training in safeguarding and knew how to report any concerns. Some staff had received additional training to become champions in this field and provided expert advice and guidance to staff. Risks to people and premises were managed in a way that minimised and mitigated risks. Staff went out of their way to think of solutions when incidents happened, to prevent the risk of reoccurrence. People and staff felt there were sufficient staff to keep people safe and there were enough staff so they had quality time with people. Medicines were managed safely. A pharmacist worked closely with the home and commented very positively about the relationship they had with the home and of the pro-active approach to medicines management. People’s medicines were reviewed annually by their GP. Valerie Manor was spotlessly clean and maintained to a high standard.
As well as completing training in a range of mandatory areas, staff were supported through supervisions and team meetings. Reflective practice took place and this enabled staff to explore different ways of working and how improvements might be made in relation to providing effective care. Consent was gained in line with the legislation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and associated legislation, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. People felt actively involved in decisions relating to their care and the registered manager worked closely with people and their families to ensure they were listened to. The quality of the food on offer at the home was of an exceptionally high standard. People had a range of choices from menus which they helped to plan at residents’ meetings. Special social events were organised where people, relatives and staff could sample different types of foods which the catering staff had prepared. This enabled the head chef to provide a menu that met people’s likes and preferences. People had prompt access to a range of healthcare professionals and services. Healthcare professionals spoke highly of the care provided and said that their advice and guidance were followed by staff. People were involved in decisions relating to the environment; their views were acted upon and the home reflected people's choices.
The care provided at Valerie Manor was exemplary and this included the care that people received at the end of their life. Staff were dedicated and passionate about providing a high standard of quality care. They knew people well and nothing was too much trouble to ensure people had a full and meaningful life. People and relatives commented on the excellent care provided and the empathy that staff had with people and their relatives. People and their relatives were involved in all aspects of their care and were treated with dignity and respect by staff. Staff were sensitive to people’s needs and provided a high level of support to people and their relatives during difficult times and through bereavement. Staff had access to a qualified counsellor who could provide additional support during emotional times, whether professional or personal.
The care provided at Valerie Manor was completely responsive to people’s needs and wishes. Staff knew people extremely well and provided personalised care. Staff had time to listen to people and ensure that the care they provided was appropriate, discreet and respected people’s privacy. Care plans provided detailed information and guidance to staff and included people’s life stories and histories. It was clear that staff knew people and their families extremely well and had meaningful conversations with people. Activities were provided at the home and a range of external entertainers visited too. Outings were available into the community if people wished. People enjoyed the beautifully landscaped gardens and there were places where they could sit with their families and/or staff. People in the community also visited the home and provided entertainment for people which was enjoyed. Complaints were managed in line with the provider’s policy.
People spoke highly of the care provided at Valerie Manor and of the talented, skilled and professional staff, including the management team. People felt actively involved in all aspects of developing the home through residents’ meetings and provided feedback through annual surveys. Staff felt valued by the managers and spoke positively of the support they received which enabled them to do their jobs well. Staff said how much they enjoyed working at the home and of the family feel and pleasant surroundings. Staff were asked for their views through formal surveys and their suggestions were listened to and actioned if appropriate. The home worked in partnership with other agencies and had forged relationships with people in the local community. A range of detailed audits measured and monitored the quality of the care delivered and the service overall. This ensured that people received the best of care and that any improvements identified could be acted upon. Continuous improvement was at the heart of the home and people were central to every aspect of how the home was run. People and their relatives were effusive in their comments about the environment, the staff, the care and of the overwhelming passion for the home demonstrated by the owners and managers. Valerie Manor and its staff were held in high esteem and had developed an outstanding reputation to deliver high quality care.
We inspected Valerie Manor on 1 and 3 July 2015. Valerie Manor is a nursing care home for up to 23 people. The people living at the home are older people with a range of physical, mental health needs and some people living with dementia. On the day of our inspection the home was full. Valerie Manor is a 17th Century house with a purpose built nursing wing set within large landscaped accessible gardens. All accommodation is on the ground floor. To access the new wing there are a few steps and an open lift to access it.
The home had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the home. 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 home is run.
People who lived at Valerie Manor told us that they felt safe living at the home. One person told us when asked “I’m as safe as houses here”. People said they felt safe as they were cared for by staff that knew them well and were aware of the risks associated with their care needs. There were sufficient numbers of staff in place to keep people safe and staff were recruited in line with safe recruitment practices. Medicines were ordered, administered, recorded and disposed of safely. Staff had received training in safeguarding adults and were able to identify any warning signs and knew who to report concerns to.
People could choose what they wanted to eat from a daily menu or request an alternative if wanted. People were asked for their views about the food and were involved in planning the menu. They were encouraged and supported to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced diet. One person said “We’re well fed and looked after”.
Staff were appropriately trained holding a Diploma in Health and Social Care and had received all essential training. Staff understood about people’s capacity to consent to care and had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and associated legislation, which they put into practice.
People could choose when they wanted to get up and go to bed and were cared for by kind and compassionate staff, who knew them well. People were involved in making decisions about their care and their privacy and dignity were respected. As people reached the end of life, the service ensured that their wishes were fulfilled in a sensitive way and that palliative care met their needs.
Prior to admission, people were assessed by the registered manager so that care could be planned that was responsive to their needs from the outset. Care plans provided detailed information about people and were personalised to reflect how they wanted to be cared for. Staff followed clinical guidance and ensured that best practice was followed in care delivery. Practice in delivering care to people was creative and innovative. The small details of people’s care as evidenced here demonstrated the creative and meticulous approach to providing person centred care. Daily records showed how people had been cared for and what assistance had been given with their personal care. People were encouraged to stay in touch with people that mattered to them and staff knew the intricacies of people’s individual needs. There were a range of interesting and unusual social activities on offer at the home, which people could participate in if they chose. The home had a complaints policy in place and a procedure that ensured people’s complaints were acknowledged and investigated promptly. People told us that they were always responded to in a prompt way and any issues addressed.
The registered manager promoted a positive culture where creative, person centred practice was at the heart of the care provided. They ensured people, staff and relatives were valued. There was a range of audit tools and processes in place to monitor the care that was delivered, that ensured an outstanding quality of care was delivered. People could be involved in developing the home if they wished. They were asked for their views about the home through questionnaires and relatives were also asked for their feedback. Excellence in best practice was striven for continuously.
We spoke with three members of staff who told us they feel confident in their role. They said that they have regular training and feel very supported by the manager. During our observation we saw that staff interacted calmly and with knowledge when they were supporting people.
We were shown examples of person centred care records which were well organised into separate sections. This provided clarity for staff. These had been developed for each individual and documented their wishes and preferences in relation to how their care was provided. A relative's assistance was sought with this where the person was unable to fully contribute themselves.
Equality and diversity had been considered in the service by looking at each individual's needs. Any equipment or adaptations needed were provided.
We saw that people experienced safe and effective care based on detailed care plans and risk assessments that met individual needs.
People using the service were protected from abuse as they were supported by a staff team who had appropriate knowledge and training on safeguarding adults. People told us if they had any concerns they would report them to the manager of senior person on duty.
Staff received ongoing training and supervision which provided them with the skills and knowledge to meet the needs of the people they were supporting.
There were processes in place to monitor the quality of service being provided and we saw that people were involved through questionnaires and residents meetings.
Generally people are receiving the care and support that they need, including medical support.
They feel safe in the home, and can discuss any concerns they have with staff.