CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at July VII Limited t/a Wykenhurst Residential Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, April 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control arrangements, with some PPE and equipment issues needing attention.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 18 March 2021. It focused on infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic, rather than giving a full service rating.
Inspectors found good arrangements for visits, testing, PPE supplies, cleaning, social distancing and staff training. People and families had been consulted about visiting, and video and telephone calls helped people stay in touch.
The inspectors were only somewhat assured about PPE use and some premises and equipment. One senior staff member was not wearing a face covering correctly, and some bins and wooden hand rails needed repair or replacement. The provider addressed the PPE issue immediately and said the other issues would be dealt with straight away.
The service was marked inspected but not rated. The report does not give ratings for the other four questions and does not compare this inspection with an earlier rating.
Visiting and family contact
The home consulted people and families about visiting. Visits were arranged in advance with testing and PPE, while video and telephone calls provided other ways to keep in touch.
“People and their family members had been consulted on how visiting arrangements should be implemented at the home.” from the report
Testing and outbreak planning
Staff were tested three times a week and people every four weeks. The report also says people and staff who tested positive would self-isolate in line with government guidance.
“There was a three times weekly COVID-19 testing programme for staff and people were tested every four weeks.” from the report
Staff infection control training
Staff had training in COVID-19 awareness and the safe use of PPE. Their practical skills were checked through supervision and observation.
“Staff had received training in Infection Prevention Control (IPC) procedures that included, COVID-19 awareness, donning and doffing” from the report
Cleaning and infection control policy
The home carried out regular cleaning of frequently touched areas and used a room disinfection system. Its infection control policy was kept up to date as guidance changed.
“The provider was proactive to ensure the IPC policy was current and reviewed when new government guidance was issued.” from the report
PPE was not always used correctly
needs fixingOne senior staff member was seen wearing a face covering incorrectly. The provider dealt with this immediately, but inspectors were only somewhat assured about PPE use.
“However, one senior staff member had been observed not to be wearing their face covering in line with the guidance.” from the report
Some equipment and surfaces needed attention
needs fixingInspectors found items that needed repair or replacement, including hand-operated bins and unvarnished or unpainted wooden hand rails. These could make cleaning and disinfecting less effective.
“We had identified items of equipment that required repairing and/or replacing such as hand operated bins for pedal bins, unvarnished and unpainted wooden hand rails” from the report
- 01Have the hand-operated bins and wooden hand rails identified by inspectors been repaired or replaced?
- 02How do you check that every staff member wears face coverings correctly?
- 03What infection control training and competency checks do staff receive now?
- 04How often are people and staff tested, and what happens if someone tests positive?
- 05How are visits currently arranged, including testing and PPE requirements?
This was an announced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control measures during the COVID-19 pandemic; it did not provide ratings for Effective, Caring, Responsive or Well-led. This explanation was written from the published report of 2 April 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, July 2019
Wykenhurst Residential Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some mental capacity records needing improvement.
Inspectors visited on 19 and 20 June 2019. The first day was unannounced. They spoke with people living at the home, staff and a community professional, and checked care, medicines, recruitment, incident and management records.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines procedures, clean surroundings, respectful care, personalised support and activities that reflected people's interests.
The Effective rating improved from Requires improvement at the previous inspection to Good. Inspectors said the home had improved its understanding of mental capacity rights, but formal mental capacity assessments and records still needed to be clearer.
Safe staffing
People and staff said there were enough staff. Inspectors saw staff respond promptly and support people without rushing.
“We saw staff responded promptly to people's needs and requests, monitored their wellbeing, and supported them in an unrushed manner.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People described staff positively, and inspectors saw care delivered with dignity, privacy and encouragement.
“Staff were caring and friendly towards the people they supported, and encouraged people and their relatives to have their say about the care provided.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans reflected people's individual needs and preferences. Activities were based on people's interests, with trips planned using their feedback.
“People's care plans were individual to them and designed to ensure their needs and known preferences were met.” from the report
Good management oversight
The management team involved people, relatives and staff, and used regular audits to check important areas of care.
“The provider had developed quality assurance systems and processes to enable them to monitor and improve the safety and quality of the service.” from the report
Improved mental capacity practice
Staff and management showed a better understanding of people's rights and the need for best-interest decisions.
“Staff and management demonstrated an improved understanding of people's rights under the MCA.” from the report
Mental capacity records
needs fixingInspectors said formal mental capacity assessments and records did not always make the decision being considered clear. The manager said further support from the local authority was due.
“Improvements were needed in the provider's approach towards completing and recording formal mental capacity assessments, to ensure the decisions under consideration were sufficiently clear.” from the report
- 01How do you now make sure formal mental capacity assessments clearly identify the decision being considered?
- 02What support is available for people who need help to make decisions, and how are best-interest decisions recorded?
- 03How do you check that staffing levels continue to match people's current needs?
- 04How are residents' views used when planning activities, menus and outings?
- 05How do your monthly audits identify and follow up any problems with care planning or medicines?
This was a planned inspection covering all five CQC questions; the Effective rating improved from Requires improvement, while the other four ratings remained Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 July 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 July VII Limited t/a Wykenhurst Residential Home
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at July VII Limited t/a Wykenhurst Residential Home →
- July 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at July VII Limited t/a Wykenhurst Residential Home →
- October 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 31 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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11 live-in carers within about an hour of Herefordshire, County of
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 £960 to £1,410 a week. 10 can care for a couple. 8 years' experience on average.
“She was very caring, kind and patient to all his needs, she built up a wondetful rapport with him, she was dedicated and was there for him through good times as well as through the tough times”
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.