During an assessment under our new approach
Date of Assessment: 20 May to 5 June 2025. Wytham House is a care home providing personal and nursing care to people aged 65 and over living with dementia. The care home accommodates up to 40 people across three separate units laid over two floors. On the day of our inspection 32 people were living at the home. This was an unannounced, responsive assessment, prompted by emerging risk.
We found breaches of regulation in relation to safe care and treatment and good governance.
The home worked with a number of professionals to ensure continuity of care within the home. Lessons were learnt to identify and embed good practice. Staff knew people and their risks well. However, care records contained conflicting information, and did not always document support required to keep people safe. Assessments were not always in place or person-centred.
The home was clean and incorporated a dementia friendly environment.
Dependency tools were used to calculate the correct number of staff. However, clinical tools such as risk assessments did not always accurately reflect people’s needs, which could impact the number of staff required. We heard from staff there were times where more staff were needed to support people and their needs.
Staff felt supported by leaders who provided support. Staff received relevant training and demonstrated a good understanding of people and their needs in relation to dementia care. Information around people’s ability to consent was not well documented.
Medicines were well managed. However, documentation was not always reflective of people’s needs around medicines.
The home raised safeguarding appropriately however we found instances where people were put at risk of harm due to poor moving and handling techniques.
There were meal choices at lunch time and people were shown alternatives before making their selections.
The governance systems in place had not identified and addressed the concerns found during inspection. Audits did not always capture incidents which allowed the home to act on information of concern. Actions were not always reflective of documentation in place.
In instances where CQC have decided to take civil or criminal enforcement action against a provider, we will publish this information on our website after any representations and/ or appeals have been concluded.