CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Orchard House Nursing Home
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
What inspectors found, May 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with a medicines protocol still being developed.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 29 March 2019. One inspector and an expert-by-experience reviewed records, medicines, staff files, audits and incident records. They spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and health professionals.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines management, suitable training, regular care plan reviews and good links with health professionals.
People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. The home provided personalised activities, including daily Namaste sessions for people living with dementia or anxiety. People were supported with food, healthcare, end-of-life care and decisions about their lives.
This was a comprehensive inspection. The home was rated Good at the previous inspection in 2015, so the overall rating had not changed.
Kind and respectful staff
People and relatives described staff positively, and inspectors observed respectful interactions. Staff supported people's privacy, dignity, choices and independence.
“People we spoke to were positive about the service. We saw friendly interactions between people and staff.” from the report
Personalised dementia support
The daily Namaste programme offered one-to-one sensory support, including hand massages, calming music and help with eating and drinking. The report says it helped some people become calmer and more engaged.
“Orchard House Nursing Home is a founding member of the Namaste programme.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs and saw medicines being given at people's pace and according to their preferences. Recruitment checks and medicines competency checks were in place.
“People were supported by staff whose suitability was checked through a robust recruitment process. People's medicines were managed safely.” from the report
Good partnership working
The home worked with professionals such as dietitians, speech and language therapists, pharmacists, GPs and hospice staff. Inspectors found that recommendations were acted on.
“Staff worked in partnership with each other and with external professionals such as dietitian, speech and language therapist and GP to meet people's needs, records confirmed this.” from the report
Personalised activities and care
Activities reflected people's interests and included gardening, music, films, reminiscence, pets as therapy and outings. Care plans covered individual needs, preferences and communication.
“People were supported by staff that knew them well, including their needs, preferences and interests.” from the report
PRN medicines guidance was still being improved
minorAn external pharmacy audit recommended more detailed guidance for medicines taken when needed. The manager was working on this, but inspectors could not yet confirm the effect of the changes.
“We will not be able to confirm the effects of this action until we next inspect the service.” from the report
- 01What more detailed guidance is now in place for medicines prescribed to be taken when needed?
- 02What happened to the plan to introduce electronic medicines administration and care planning systems?
- 03How would you support my relative's specific dementia needs, including anxiety or behaviour that challenges?
- 04How do you monitor food, drink and weight if someone is at risk of malnutrition or choking?
- 05How are families involved in care planning, advanced care planning and decisions at the end of life?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five questions, and both the premises and the care provided were looked at. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 May 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 Orchard House Nursing Home
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- May 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2015Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 4 February 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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