The Old Vicarage Care Home

On this page

• Overview
• Person-centred Care
• Care provision, Integration and continuity
• Providing Information
• Listening to and involving people
• Equity in access
• Equity in experiences and outcomes
• Planning for the future

Responsive – this means we looked for evidence that the service met people’s needs.At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this inspection the rating has changed to requires improvement. This meant people’s needs were not always met.

This service scored 61 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

Although staff at the service made sure people were at the centre of their care and treatment choices and they decided, in partnership with people, how to respond to any relevant changes in people’s needs. Some systems that were in place did not promote person-centred care. People’s comments included, “Staff explain things, I hope they understand me” and “They [staff] share information.” Care was task centred as staff did not have time to engage with people, except when they provided care. The manager had introduced some activities to stimulate people. However, as reported in the above independence, choice and control section, further improvement was needed to help ensure people were meaningfully occupied, if they wished. Improvements were needed to care records to ensure they accurately reflected people’s needs and provided staff with information about how people wished and needed to be supported. Information about people and things of importance had been gathered for people. We discussed that the information should not be displayed in public, on the front of people’s bedroom doors, in order to protect people’s privacy. This was addressed after the inspection.

Staff at the service understood the diverse health and care needs of people and their local communities, so care was joined-up, flexible and supported choice and continuity. Information was available and shared between services as needed to ensure people's care and treatment needs could be assessed and met. People’s care records showed how people’s care was planned and delivered with continuity, inclusion and a holistic approach to people’s needs. This included, for example, how people were supported after admission following a hospital stay caused by a decline in health or an accident.

The provider supplied appropriate, accurate and up-to-date information in formats that were tailored to individual needs. The service advertised that it could supply appropriate, accurate and up-to-date information in formats that were tailored to individual needs. However, people did not always have information in formats to suit them, for example, when choosing meals or activities for the day. The manager told us this would be addressed.

The provider made it easy for people to share feedback and ideas, or raise complaints about their care, treatment and support. They involved people in decisions about their care and told them what had changed as a result. People told us staff listened to their views and acted on feedback. People and their relatives knew how to voice their opinions or raise complaints and felt free to do so. A person commented, “I would know how to complain.”

Staff made sure that people could access the care, support and treatment they needed when they needed it.People's care records showed they had access to care, support and referrals were made for treatment when they needed it. Care records included information around most people's sensory and communication needs. However, a care plan was not in place that provided guidance for staff about how to support a person who was registered blind.

Staff and leaders actively listened to information about people who are most likely to experience inequality in experience or outcomes and tailored their care, support and treatment in response to this. Care plans included information around people’s identity, things which were important to them, their wishes and relationships they wanted to maintain.

People were supported to plan for important life changes, so they could have enough time to make informed decisions about their future, including at the end of their life. We discussed including information about people's religion and cultural preferences to care plans, in case this support was required. People’s wishes to remain at the home were respected when they neared the end of their life. Advanced care plans that were in place contained people’s plans for the future and if they wished to be transferred to hospital if their health deteriorated. The manager told us they were all currently being reviewed by the local GP to ensure people’s wishes were carried out and that people were transferred to hospital when needed.