Wickmeads

Wickmeads is a care home without nursing registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 50 people. At the time of our inspection 41 people were living there.

People’s experience of using this service:

People told us they felt safe. They were relaxed and familiar with the staff and each other. People were cared for by a staff team who had received appropriate training to carry out their roles. Staff spoke knowledgably about the systems in place to safeguard people from abuse.

People’s medicines were managed safely, stored securely and administered by trained staff. People received assistance to take their medicines as prescribed. We have made a recommendation around the management and recording of people's medicines and prescribed topical creams.

The service was working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People were supported to have maximum choice and control over 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. However, we have made a recommendation regarding the management of people’s Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards conditions.

Risks to people’s health, safety and well-being were regularly assessed, reviewed and updated.

The provider had robust recruitment systems to ensure staff were safely recruited. Staff received regular supervision and annual appraisals to ensure they were fully supported in their role. There was an effective training programme that staff felt was interesting and well delivered.

Staff felt well supported in their roles and found the management team open, honest and approachable.

People’s health care needs were met, and staff supported them to see healthcare professionals when appropriate.

People’s dietary needs and preferences were assessed and where needed, people received support to eat and drink. This was provided in a discreet and friendly way. The dining rooms were attractively laid out to ensure people could have an enjoyable meal time experience.

People received care from staff that knew them well and treated them with kindness, compassion, respect and dignity. People's care was tailored to their individual needs and maintained their independence as much as possible. Care plans were detailed, person centred and reviewed regularly to ensure they reflected people’s needs.

The service had an activity programme for people to enjoy if they wished. Activities included outings to places of interest, and towns as well as indoor activities. People had one-to-one support to take part in activities to prevent social isolation.

People and their relatives knew how to complain and were confident their views would be heard.

There was a system of ongoing monitoring through audits and spot checks to review the quality of the service provided.

People, relatives, staff and health professionals expressed confidence in the management team and felt the service had a clear management structure and an open and supportive culture.

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 in August 2017).

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection based on the rating from the last inspection.

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.

Accommodation is arranged over two floors with each corridor reflecting a theme, such as sailing, travel and garden. Corridors are wide and well lit enabling easy access for people with restricted mobility. There are two passenger lifts and a small car park available for visitors.

At the time of this inspection the home had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations.

Staff knew how to prevent, identify and report abuse and the provider had a system in place to protect people from the risk of harm.

People’s needs were assessed before they moved into the home and during their time there. Areas of risk were assessed such as, skin integrity, falls and mobility and nutrition. Regular reviews were completed to ensure people’s needs were continually assessed.

People received personal care and support in a personalised way. Staff spoke knowledgably about people and provided care in a kind and caring way. People’s privacy and dignity was maintained and people could receive visitors whenever they wished.

Records were accurate and up to date. Where people had particular nutrition and hydration needs, food and fluid intake was recorded, monitored and followed up so that any necessary action was taken.

There were robust medicine management systems in place. People received their prescribed medicines when they needed them and appropriate arrangements were in place for the storage and disposal of medicines.

Equipment such as wheelchairs, hoists and pressure cushions were readily available, maintained correctly and used safely by staff in accordance with people’s care records.

There was a system in place to ensure people were cared for, or supported by sufficient numbers of suitably qualified and experienced staff. The provider had good recruitment and selection procedures in place and staff were supported in their roles with ongoing training and supervision.

The manager was aware of their responsibilities in regard to The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). These safeguards aim to protect people living in care homes and hospitals from being inappropriately deprived of their liberty.

People were supported to make decisions and where people did not have the capacity, decisions were made in their best interest.

There was a varied and full schedule of activities for people to take part in if they wished. The provider employed dedicated activity staff who provided a full programme of activities for people.

People knew how to make a complaint and felt confident they would be listened to if they needed to raise concerns or queries.

There were systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided. Regular checks and audits were undertaken to ensure full and safe procedures were adhered to.