Wantage Nursing Home

Updated 21 October 2021

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 Care Act 2014.

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 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 care service.

Service and service type

Wantage is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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.

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 we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We looked at notifications received from the provider. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about by law. This ensured we were addressing any areas of concern. We looked at the service’s last inspection report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three person who used the service as well as one relative. Most people living in the home could not verbally give us feedback. As such we looked around the home and observed the way staff interacted with people. We looked at six people's care records and four medicine administration records (MAR). We spoke with 11 members of staff including the area operations manager, the registered manager, the deputy manager, nurses, carers, chef, activities coordinator and maintenance personnel.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We received further feedback from two relatives.

Updated 21 October 2021

About the service

Wantage is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care in an adapted building across two floors. At the time of the inspection 19 people aged 65 and over were living at the service and only occupying the ground floor. The service can support up to 50 people.

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

People living at Wantage received safe care from skilled and knowledgeable staff. Staff knew how to identify and report any concerns. The provider had safe recruitment and selection processes in place.

Risks to people's safety and well-being were managed through a risk management process. There were sufficient staff deployed to meet people's needs.

Medicines were managed safely, and people received their medicines as prescribed. The provider had made significant changes and ensured there were clear processes and procedures to manage all aspects of medicines safely.

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.

The provider had made improvements to ensure people’s care and support was planned and delivered in line with current evidence-based guidance, standards, best practice and legislation. Records showed people’s needs were assessed before they came to live at Wantage. The provider was still in the process of improving the environment for people living with dementia in line with good practice guidance for helping people to be stimulated and orientated.

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. Staff had a particularly good understanding of when the principles of the Mental Capacity Act should be applied. People were supported to meet their nutritional needs and commented that food choices had improved.

The home was well-led by a registered manager who was committed to improving people's quality of life. We received positive feedback about the management of the home from people, relatives and staff. The provider and registered manager had made significant changes to the service. They had developed effective quality assurance processes which were used to improve people’s care. The service had a clear management and staffing structure in place and staff worked well as a team. Staff worked well with external social and health care professionals.

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 17 June 2019) and there was a breach in Regulation 17. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 24 April 2019. A breach of legal requirements was found. The provider was asked to complete an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve good governance.

We undertook this focused inspection to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe, Effective and Well-led which contain those requirements.

The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to 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 Wantage Nursing Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

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.

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