We carried out a review of the data available to us about Lady of the Vale Care Home on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Lady of the Vale Care Home, you can give feedback on this service.
Lady of the Vale Care Home (previously known as Order of The Sisters of St Joseph of The Apparition) is a nursing home providing personal and nursing care to 32 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 39 people.
The home is located in the village of Bowdon Vale in Altrincham. Accommodation is over two floors accessible by two passenger lifts, one of which is suitable for wheelchairs and people have access to a chapel located within the home.
People's experience of using this service and what we found
Staff were caring and kind and supported people in a respectful and dignified way. Staff understood how to protect people's privacy and individual choices.
Although there were some activities taking place, people did not always have access to a wide range of activities. A new activities co-ordinator had been recruited and was due to start. The new manager was keen to improve the homes overall approach to activities.
Care plans reflected people’s care needs and health conditions. However, there was scope to make people’s care plans more personalised, to capture people's individual characteristics, which would help staff get to know people better.
People were supported by staff with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively meet their assessed needs. There had been a delay for new staff to complete the care certificate as part of their introduction into health and social care. The manager enrolled staff who had not completed the care certificate shortly after our inspection.
People were receiving their medicines safely. We observed medicines being given safely to people by appropriately trained staff, who had been assessed as competent.
There were enough staff available to meet people's needs. However, some staff felt the staffing levels would vary from time to time. We were provided with evidence confirming the staffing levels were exceeding the staffing dependency tool and we observed no delays in care being provided.
People confirmed they were involved in their care planning. End of life care planning and documentation guided staff in providing care at this important stage of people's lives.
We observed a range of positive interactions between people and the staff team throughout the inspection, with staff responding appropriately and in a timely manner to changes in people's needs. There was a warm and homely environment, with people relaxed in the presence of staff.
People and their relatives told us they had been well supported throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and the provider worked in line with current guidelines to support safe visiting.
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 had enough to eat and drink and were supported to maintain a healthy diet. People were referred to healthcare professionals when necessary.
People and their relatives were positive about the new manager and commented on the positive changes the manager was looking to introduce. People were cared for by a motivated staff team who felt valued and supported to carry out their duties.
The provider monitored the quality and safety of the service. There was a regular programme of auditing in place. People and their relatives were encouraged to provide feedback regarding their views and opinions of the service.
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 under the previous provider, Order of The Sisters of St Joseph of The Apparition, was good (published 27 August 2019).
Why we inspected
We undertook this inspection as part of a random selection of services rated Good and Outstanding.
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.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.