CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Belong Warrington Care Village
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
- Safe?
- Requires improvement
- Staffing was not always consistent, safeguarding procedures were not always followed promptly, and some CQC notifications were missed. Medicines, infection control and individual risk assessments were found to be in place.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not separately rated in this inspection report.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not separately rated. Inspectors observed positive interactions and engagement between staff and people.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not separately rated in this inspection report.
- Well-led?
- Requires improvement
- Management and quality monitoring were not yet consistent. The new management team had started improvements, but inspectors needed evidence that they would be sustained.
What inspectors found, December 2022
Belong Warrington Care Village was rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found staffing, safeguarding and management systems were not yet consistently reliable.
This was an unannounced inspection on 11 October 2022. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and outside professionals. They also checked care records, medicines records, recruitment files and management records.
The home was not always safe. Staffing was not always consistent, and agency staff did not always know the people or the service well. Safeguarding procedures were not always followed promptly, and some required notifications were not made to CQC. The home had safe medicines and infection control arrangements.
The home was also not always well-led. A new management team had identified problems and started making changes, but inspectors needed to see that these improvements lasted. The overall rating changed from Good at the previous inspection to Requires Improvement.
Safe recruitment
The home completed pre-employment checks, obtained references and checked DBS certificates for the staff files inspected.
“Safe recruitment procedures were in place. Pre-employment checks were conducted, suitable references were sought, and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificates were checked.” from the report
Medicines monitoring
Staff had medicines training and competency checks. Weekly audits were used to identify errors or discrepancies promptly.
“Weekly audits were completed across the service. Audits ensured compliance was being monitored and any errors or discrepancies were identified in a timely manner.” from the report
Positive interactions
Inspectors saw staff engaging positively with people, who appeared happy and supported to take part in activities they enjoyed.
“People appeared happy, content and were supported to engage in different activities they enjoyed.” from the report
Individual risk planning
People's risks were identified, monitored and supported by tailored and general risk assessments that were regularly reviewed.
“People's area of risk were established, routinely monitored and risk management plans were put in place” from the report
Inconsistent staffing
needs fixingThere had been too much reliance on agency staff who were not always familiar with the home or the people living there. Inspectors recommended embedding safer and more consistent staffing arrangements.
“Staffing was not always consistent to meet people's needs.” from the report
Safeguarding reporting
seriousSafeguarding procedures were not always followed promptly. Some incidents were reported to local authorities but not to CQC when required, although the manager had begun improving the process.
“Safeguarding systems and processes were not always followed.” from the report
Missed daily checks
needs fixingDaily environmental check records were not completed when the designated staff member was absent. The manager was reviewing this after inspectors raised it.
“Daily records had not been completed to show the checks had taken place when the designated staff member was absent from the service.” from the report
Communication
needs fixingCommunication between the home, staff and outside services was not always effective. Inspectors received feedback that working relationships needed improvement.
“There is poor communication between staff, management and ourselves.” from the report
Quality oversight
needs fixingQuality assurance and feedback systems had not been reliable enough. New systems, meetings and surveys were introduced, but inspectors needed to see that improvements lasted.
“Whilst it was recognised improvements had been identified and made prior to our inspection, we needed to be sure they would be sustained and embedded over a longer period.” from the report
- 01How have staffing arrangements changed, and how do you make sure staff have the right skills, experience and knowledge for my relative's needs?
- 02How do you now make sure every safeguarding incident is reported to CQC and the relevant local authority when required?
- 03What checks are completed when the person responsible for daily environmental checks is absent?
- 04How are you measuring whether the new management and quality assurance systems are working and lasting?
- 05How do you gather and act on feedback from residents, relatives and outside professionals?
This inspection focused on the Safe and Well-led questions; the report does not give separate ratings for Effective, Caring or Responsive. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 December 2022 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, March 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 3 February 2021. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control in the care home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inspectors were assured that the home was using personal protective equipment safely, arranging testing, supporting vaccination, and managing visitors, social distancing and admissions. They also found the home clean and well maintained.
The home used six separate households, with mostly separate staff teams and facilities. Inspectors also found detailed COVID-19 records, regular health checks, good communication with relatives and support for people's emotional and social wellbeing.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give an overall quality rating or a rated judgement across all five areas of care.
Separate households
The building's design allowed people and staff to be separated into six mostly independent households. Staff usually stayed within one household.
“The design of the home meant that cohorting of people and staff was easily facilitated as it was built into the design of the home.” from the report
Testing and vaccination
The home used available COVID-19 testing for people and staff. People and staff were supported to take part in the vaccination programme.
“The service made effective use of available COVID-19 testing for both people living at the home and staff members.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean and very well maintained. The laundry arrangements reduced the risk of clean and dirty laundry being mixed.
“The home was clean and very well maintained.” from the report
Good records and oversight
Leaders kept detailed records about COVID-19 and the support given to people and staff. These records helped senior staff monitor people's wellbeing and safety.
“Clear, detailed and accurate records regarding COVID-19 and the support offered to people and staff members were kept.” from the report
Communication with relatives
The home kept friends and relatives informed about its COVID-19 arrangements and used different forms of technology to help people stay in touch.
“Senior staff had ensured that people's friends and relatives were kept in regular communication about the steps being taken within the home to care for people during the COVID-19 pandemic.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have your infection prevention and control arrangements changed since the inspection on 3 February 2021?
- 02How are visitors currently managed, and what arrangements are in place if there is an infection outbreak?
- 03Do staff still usually work within one household, and when might staff move between households?
- 04How are people supported to stay in contact with relatives and maintain their emotional and social wellbeing?
- 05Can you explain how you monitor people's health and respond if checks such as breathing, oxygen levels, skin or temperature give cause for concern?
This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas of care were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 March 2021 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Belong Warrington Care Village
4 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has slipped, from Good to Requires improvement.
- December 2022Requires improvementcurrent ratingSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
Read what inspectors found at Belong Warrington Care Village →
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Belong Warrington Care Village →
- March 2020Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2019Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 18 August 2014.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Warrington
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Most charge £980 to £1,260 a week. 90 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
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