CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Old Vicarage
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People said they felt safe. Inspectors found that risks, medicines, staffing, recruitment, fire safety and infection control were managed appropriately.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had training and support, and responded to changes in people's health. People were supported with food, healthcare, consent and least-restrictive care.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Inspectors found exceptionally compassionate care. Staff knew people well, respected their dignity and went beyond what was required to support them.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's histories, preferences and needs. The home provided personalised activities, communication support, outings and individualised end-of-life planning.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The managers were described as approachable and visible. The home sought people's views and used audits, meetings and incident reviews to improve the service.
What inspectors found, December 2018
Rated Good overall, with Outstanding caring; inspectors found safe, respectful care and strong activities, health support and management.
This was a comprehensive inspection on 23 and 26 October 2018. The first day was unannounced and the second day was announced. Inspectors spoke with seven people, three relatives and staff, and reviewed care, medicines, staffing and quality records.
The home remained Good overall. Safe, effective, responsive and well-led were all rated Good. Caring improved from Good to Outstanding. Inspectors found people were safe, treated with dignity and supported by staff who knew them well.
Inspectors found enough suitable staff, safe medicines practices, clean and well-maintained surroundings, good support with health needs and food, and a wide range of activities. They found no evidence of serious risks or concerns.
Kind and personal care
Staff treated people as individuals and built strong, supportive relationships. Inspectors saw a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
“The service provided people with exceptional care and support from staff who valued them as individuals.” from the report
Respect and independence
People were offered choices about daily life, privacy and night checks. Staff supported people to remain independent and respected their wishes.
“People were offered day to day choices, such as what time to get up, what to wear, meal choices and about how they spent their day.” from the report
Activities and inclusion
An activity coordinator supported activities based on people's interests and abilities. People could join outings, hobbies and community events.
“People had opportunities to take part in activities which they enjoyed and which met their abilities and interests.” from the report
Good management and listening
Managers involved people in decisions, listened to feedback and used checks to monitor quality and safety. Staff said they were well supported.
“There were effective systems in place to monitor the quality of care provided.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you assess and review my relative's individual health needs and risks before admission?
- 02How do you use the dependency scale to decide how many staff are needed each day?
- 03How would you support my relative's communication needs, including hearing, sight or difficulty reading?
- 04What activities and outings would be suitable for my relative's interests and abilities?
- 05How would you plan and provide end-of-life care in line with my relative's wishes and beliefs?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions, the premises and the care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 December 2018 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 The Old Vicarage
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 31 October 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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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.
“She is such a warm and gentle person while being professional and competent at the same time.”
“She looked after my mum, who can be incredibly challenging, so well and so gently, and we always felt confident that my mum was getting the best care available.”
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.