The Old Vicarage

Updated 19 May 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

This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

The Old Vicarage 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. The Old Vicarage 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 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 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 nine people and two relatives about their experiences of care and support. We spoke with five members of staff, the registered manager and the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

We reviewed care plans and risk assessments for four people, medicines administration records, health and safety records, three staff files for recruitment and quality monitoring records.

After the inspection

We continued to validate evidence found. We telephoned a further three members of staff and two relatives. We contacted four professionals for their feedback about the service. We reviewed compliments, various audit records, meeting minutes and various policies and procedures.

Updated 19 May 2022

About the service

The Old Vicarage is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 21 people in one adapted building. At the time of our inspection there were 18 people using the service. Accommodation is provided on three floors accessed by stairs and lifts. People had their own rooms and access to communal rooms such as a lounge and dining room. People could access a large garden from the ground floor.

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

People, relatives and staff spoke positively about the care received and the management of the home. They appreciated the home was a small, family run service providing people with continuity of care. People and relatives told us there were enough staff available to support them and the staff were caring and helpful.

People’s individual risks had been identified and risk assessments were in place. They were regularly reviewed and amended when needed. People had their medicines as prescribed and where safe to do so people were supported to manage their own medicines. Staff had been trained in safeguarding and understood their responsibilities to report any concerns.

People and relatives told us the home and their rooms were cleaned regularly. We observed the home was clean and smelt fresh. Staff were observed to be wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and staff told us they had received training on using PPE safely. The provider told us they had plenty of PPE in stock.

Management had kept in touch with local health protection agencies and kept up to date with government guidance on COVID-19. Updated guidance had been cascaded to staff when needed. People, relatives and staff had received communications throughout COVID-19 on changes and guidance for visiting, PPE and testing. Staff were testing regularly for COVID-19 as per the government guidance.

We observed relatives were visiting indoors and wearing PPE as appropriate. The home also had a large garden which could be used for visiting. The provider had made changes to the garden to provide people with a hard, safe path to use so they could walk around the whole garden area. The registered manager told us this had enabled people to exercise during national lockdowns.

Quality monitoring systems were in place. People, relatives and staff knew who the registered manager and owners were and told us all the management were approachable. Feedback and ideas for improvements were encouraged from everyone and listened to. Action was taken to make improvements where appropriate.

The service worked in partnership with a range of professionals. People were supported to see healthcare professionals in the community or at the home if needed. There were good community links which included religious services and visits for people if they wished.

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 2 February 2018).

Why we inspected

This focused inspection was carried out as part of our inspection schedule. For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

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, which will help inform when we next inspect.