CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Halwill Manor Nursing Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was preventing infections, using PPE safely, accessing testing and keeping its infection control policy up to date.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, March 2021
Halwill Manor Nursing Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control and safe visiting arrangements.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 23 February 2021. It was carried out because of the coronavirus pandemic and focused on infection prevention and control.
Inspectors found that staff followed current infection control guidance. PPE was available and used correctly, testing was in place, cleaning schedules were followed, and people’s temperatures were checked daily.
The home had arrangements to make visits safer, including booking systems, visitor screening, face coverings and a visiting screen. Staff also helped people keep in touch with relatives through video calls.
The service was inspected but not rated. This report does not give an overall quality rating or ratings for the other four questions.
Infection control
Staff followed current infection prevention guidance, supported by risk assessments, policies and training.
“Staff were following current infection prevention and control guidance to help people to stay safe.” from the report
PPE and testing
There was a good supply of PPE, staff used it correctly, and whole-home testing followed current guidance.
“Whole home testing was undertaken, with frequency of testing people and staff in line with current guidance.” from the report
Cleaning and hygiene
The home carried out infection control audits and had a cleaning schedule for all areas.
“A cleaning schedule for all areas of the home was in place and implemented to ensure the whole home was effectively cleaned on a regular basis.” from the report
Safer family visits
Visits were organised with booking, visitor screening, face coverings and a screen to reduce contact and support safer visiting.
“This enabled safe visits to go ahead which ensured no contact with other people and minimal contact with staff.” from the report
Keeping families connected
Staff helped people maintain contact with relatives and friends, including through video calls.
“Staff helped people to stay in touch with their families.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection prevention and control arrangements are in place now?
- 02How are PPE supplies, staff training and infection control audits checked?
- 03How are visitors screened and supported when visiting people in the home?
- 04How will my relative keep in touch with family if in-person visits are restricted?
- 05What ratings or inspection findings apply to areas that were not covered by this inspection?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; the service was inspected but not rated and the report does not assess the other four questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 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.
What inspectors found, December 2019
Halwill Manor Nursing Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with previous staff-record issues addressed.
This was an unannounced inspection on 12 November 2019. One inspector spoke with people, a relative, staff, the manager and health and social care professionals. They also observed care and checked care records, policies, complaints, audits and other records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found suitable staffing, safe medicines, trained staff, regular care reviews and good access to health professionals. People were treated with kindness and respect, and activities were based on their interests.
The home had good systems for checking quality and learning from incidents. Inspectors noted that some staff-file documents had been missing in the past, but responsibility had been given to a staff member to keep these files complete. The overall Good rating was unchanged from the previous inspection, published in May 2017.
Safe staffing
Staffing levels were based on the combined needs of the people living in the home. A team leader and at least one qualified nurse covered every shift.
“The numbers of staff on duty for each shift were based upon the collective care and support needs of each person in residence.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors observed friendly and caring interactions. People looked relaxed, well cared for and treated with dignity.
“All staff demonstrated great kindness and genuine empathy for the people they were looking after.” from the report
Personalised support
Staff knew people's preferences and used care reviews and electronic records to respond to changing needs.
“In our discussions with staff it was evident they were familiar with people's individual preferences and knew how they like to be cared for.” from the report
Activities and family contact
Activities were based on people's histories and interests. Staff also helped people keep in touch with family and welcomed visitors at any time.
“The service firmly believed that meaningful activities for people were essential to maintaining well-being.” from the report
Good oversight
The management team used audits and reviews to monitor care, investigate incidents and make improvements.
“The service had good systems in place to monitor and evaluate services provided in the home.” from the report
Staff-file checks had needed improvement
minorInspectors said some documents had previously been missing from a staff member's file. The home had since given someone responsibility for checking that personnel files were complete.
“This was because previously some documents had been missing from a staff members file.” from the report
- 01How do you decide whether staffing levels need to change when a resident's care needs increase?
- 02How are the 16 outstanding Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards applications being followed up?
- 03How do you check that electronic care records accurately show the care and fluids each person has received?
- 04How do you make sure all staff personnel files contain the required documents?
- 05How would you support my relative if they needed end of life care at the home?
This inspection covered the overall service and all five CQC questions, including both the premises and the care provided; all five ratings were Good and unchanged from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 December 2019 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 Halwill Manor Nursing Home
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2015GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 18 January 2011.
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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17 live-in carers within about an hour of Devon
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £1,020 to £1,270 a week. 15 can care for a couple. 13 years' experience on average.
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Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.