Background to this inspection
Updated
14 July 2022
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 team consisted of two inspectors, CQC's Chief Executive Officer and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of service.
Service and Service Type
Priscilla Wakefield House 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. Priscilla Wakefield House is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
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
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority. 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. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with six people who used the service and six relatives. We spoke with 12 staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, the night manager, team leader, three nursing staff, four care staff, and the head of housekeeping. We looked at a range of management records including quality audits, complaints and compliments. We also reviewed eight people’s care records including end of life care plans. After the site visit, we continued to liaise with the service. The registered manager sent us documentation we asked for and clarified any queries we had.
Updated
14 July 2022
About the service
Priscilla Wakefield House is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care for up to 117 people. There are five units in the service. Copperfield and Havisham are units for people requiring nursing care whilst Nickleby provides residential care. Dorrit unit is for people living with dementia and requiring nursing care and Pickwick is for younger adults who may have dementia, brain injury or a physical disability and who require nursing care and rehabilitation. At the time of the inspection there were 108 people using the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People had risk assessments in place including for specific health conditions. Staff knew how to respond in an emergency and when to seek medical help. The provider ensured there was a variety of moving and handling equipment to meet people’s needs. Staff received training in safety topics. People were protected from the risks associated with the spread of infection.
People were provided with a personalised care service that took account of their preferences. There were a variety of activities offered and staff supported people to maintain contact with loved ones. People had communication care plans to ensure staff could support them in a way they understood. People were provided with compassionate end of life care.
The provider held regular meetings for people using the service and staff. The registered manager knew their responsibility under the duty of candour. The provider had systems in place to monitor the quality of the service. We made a recommendation around checking the call bell system.
During this inspection we carried out a separate thematic probe, which asked questions of the provider, people and their relatives, about the quality of oral health care support and access to dentists, for people living in the care home. This was to follow up on the findings and recommendations from our national report on oral healthcare in care homes that was published in 2019 called ‘Smiling Matters’. We will publish a follow up report to the 2019 'Smiling Matters' report, with up to date findings and recommendations about oral health, in due course.
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 this service was good (published 6 June 2018). At the last inspection we made a recommendation about management of complaints. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and there was now a more effective way of managing complaints.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about the service and in part due to concerns received about risk management and end of life care. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.
We looked at infection control 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.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.