Background to this inspection
Updated
6 March 2021
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of coronavirus, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control practice was safe and the service was compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place.
This inspection took place on 21 January 2021 and was unannounced.
Updated
6 March 2021
About the service
The Old Rectory is a care home which can accommodate up to 38 older people who need residential or nursing care across two floors. At the time of our inspection 36 people were living in the home.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The Old Rectory is a family-owned business with owners who are fully involved in the day-to-day running of the service. The owners’ values and ethos of providing a ‘family’ feel and atmosphere was shared by the registered manager and staff team. All staff were happy in their role and described the service as their ‘second home’. They were keen to implement the person-centred care that was encouraged by the registered manager and owners.
Risks to people had been identified and assessed with guidance in place for staff to follow to ensure people did not come to harm. Staff knew how to recognise signs of abuse and were confident reporting any concerns they may have. People told us they felt safe and family members were reassured their loved ones were well looked after. People’s medicines were managed safely by trained staff and guidance was in place for people who received medicines ‘as required’.
There were enough suitably qualified and trained staff to meet people’s needs safely and effectively. Staff commented on the good teamwork and how they supported each other especially during busy times. They told they felt they had time to sit with people and spend quality time with them.
People’s needs had been assessed and plans were in place to help manage these. Staff commented on how easy the care plans were to follow and how the information they contained helped them to support people.
People had access to other health and social care professionals when needed and staff followed the guidance provided. People were supported to maintain a healthy balanced diet and spoke positively about the food provided. All staff had good knowledge of people’s individual dietary needs and preferences and provided people with the support they needed during meal times.
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.
People and family members spoke positively about the caring nature of all staff and they confirmed the ‘family’ ethos. Family members told us how welcome they were made to feel and how well staff knew them just as much as they knew their loved ones. Staff had developed positive relationships with people and provided care and support that was person-centred and based on their needs and choices.
A full time activities co-ordinator supported people to access a range of activities. People were encouraged to complete a 'bucket list' of things they would like to do and were supported to achieve this. Regular garden parties and events were organised to help forge and maintain links with the local community.
People and family members spoke positively about the management of the service. They were confident raising concerns and the registered manager’s ‘open door’ policy created an environment that was relaxed and supportive. Effective systems were in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service and the registered provider was keen to improve the quality of care people received.
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 (report published 1 June 2017)
Why we inspected - This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.