The Wykeham

Updated 9 September 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by 1 inspector.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats and specialist housing.

Registered manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed the information we already held about this service. This included details of its registration, previous inspection reports and any notifications of significant incidents the provider had sent us. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection

We spoke with 3 members of staff, which included 2 care staff, the registered manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 4 people’s care plans. We looked at 2 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Following our site visit we spoke over the phone with 2 people and 1 relative about their experience of care. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 9 September 2023

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

The Wykeham is a domiciliary care agency located in the London Borough of Havering. It is registered to provide personal care to people in their own homes. At the time of the inspection, 4 people were receiving support with personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where people do receive personal care, we also consider any wider social care provided.

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

Right Support

There were systems in place to keep people safe from abuse. There were risk assessments to monitor and mitigate risks to people. Staff were recruited safely and there were enough staff working at the service. No one at the service was being supported with medicines administration, but the service kept information about people’s medicines to support with risks to them. Staff were trained in infection prevention and control. There were systems in place to learn from incidents and accidents. 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 did not support this practice.

Right Care

People’s needs were assessed so the service knew whether they could meet their needs. Staff received an induction, were trained and supervised in their roles. People could be supported with eating and drinking if required. Staff recorded care effectively and worked with health and social care professionals to ensure people received good care.

Right Culture

Feedback from people and relatives indicated staff were caring. People and relatives were able to make choices with people’s care. People were treated with respect and dignity and supported to be independent.

People’s needs were recorded in care plans which were personalised and provided instructions for staff. People’s communication needs were recorded so staff could meet their preferences. Staff supported people with activities of their choice. There had been no complaints about the service but there was a process in place for people and relatives to follow.

The service provided a person-centred culture with relatives and staff providing positive feedback about how the service was managed. People, relatives and staff were able to engage in the service. There were quality assurance measures to ensure people were provided with good, safe care. The service worked with other agencies to support people.

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 the service was good (published 19 December 2018.)

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support right care right culture. This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

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.