Waltham House Care Home

Updated 30 March 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.

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

The inspection was completed by 1 inspector.

Service and service type

Waltham House Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Waltham House Care Home is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

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

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 2 people who used the service and 2 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 8 members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, senior care staff, care workers and administrator.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 4 people's care records and 5 medication administration records. We inspected 3 staff files in relation to their recruitment. A variety of other records relating to the management of the service, including audits and policies and procedures, were also reviewed.

We inspected the environment and spent time observing interactions between people and staff, and infection prevention and control practices.

Updated 30 March 2023

About the service

Waltham House Care Home is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 33 older people, including people living with dementia in 1 adapted building. At the time of our inspection there were 23 people using the service.

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

Quality monitoring systems were in place which helped to check various areas of the home. Any actions identified were carried out to make sure the service was continually improving. However, some improvements in relation to monitoring records were required.

People were happy with the care they received, they felt safe and well looked after.

People had support from staff who had been safely recruited. Staff received training in safeguarding and understood their role and responsibilities to protect people from abuse. People and staff spoke positively about the management of the service. Staff received guidance and support from management regularly and when required.

Staff followed care plans and risk assessments which were in place for known risk, up to date, and regularly reviewed. People were supported to take their medicines safely as prescribed.

People were regularly asked their views on the service provided and action had been taken when suggestions were made.

People were supported to have access to healthcare services to monitor and maintain their health and well-being. People were encouraged to maintain a healthy diet, where people had specific dietary requirements, these were catered for.

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.

The home was clean and tidy. Staff had access to and followed clear policies and procedures on infection, prevention and control that met current and relevant national guidance.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 30 March 2022).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

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.

This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions safe and well-led which contain those requirements. For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has remained good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Waltham House Care Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Recommendations

We have made a recommendation in relation to information recording systems.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.