CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Wedge Residential Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was managing infection risks, including visitors, social distancing, PPE, testing, admissions, hygiene and outbreaks.
- 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, April 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured the home had effective COVID-19 infection controls.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 1 March 2021. It looked only at infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inspectors were assured that the home managed visitors, social distancing, personal protective equipment, testing, admissions and outbreaks safely. The home had an up-to-date infection control policy.
The home supported contact with families through planned visits, telephone calls, emails and video calls. Inspectors also found that staff had infection control training and knew what to do if someone developed COVID-19 symptoms.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not provide a full rating of the home or a rating for most areas of care.
Keeping families connected
Visits were organised to reduce infection risks, and the home also used telephone calls, emails and video calls to maintain contact.
“People were supported to keep in touch with families. Visits were planned and well organised to reduce risk and avoid the potential spread of infection.” from the report
Visitor safety
Visitors were screened for symptoms and visits were staggered. The home had an enclosed structure with a clear partition and PPE stations.
“The structure had separate entrances with a clear partition separating people from their visitors to reduce risks.” from the report
Testing arrangements
The home had regular whole-home testing for staff and residents, as well as testing for people with suspected or confirmed symptoms.
“A testing scheme for all staff and residents had been implemented, known as 'whole home testing'.” from the report
Staff infection control training
Staff had received specialist infection control training and knew how to put extra precautions in place when someone had symptoms.
“Staff were trained and knew how to immediately instigate full infection control measures to care for people with symptoms of COVID-19 to avoid the virus spreading to other people and staff members.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visits currently arranged, and what infection control measures do visitors need to follow?
- 02How often are staff and residents tested, and what happens when someone has symptoms?
- 03What is the current plan for managing a COVID-19 outbreak?
- 04How are staff expected to maintain social distancing during breaks, handovers and meetings?
- 05Can you explain which parts of the home's care and service have been reviewed since this focused inspection?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control only; the service was inspected but not rated and the report does not give ratings for the other areas of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 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, December 2019
The Wedge Residential Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with some records and quality checks needing improvement.
Inspectors made an unannounced visit on 15 and 16 October 2019. They spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and visiting professionals. They also checked care records, medicines records, recruitment files, training information and management records.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practice, kind and respectful care, personalised support, good food and activities, and a stable management team.
There were some weaknesses in record keeping and checks. Falls risk records did not always explain how staff should support people after a fall. Some mental capacity records and quality audits were unclear or lacked detail. The manager addressed some issues promptly, and inspectors made recommendations for improvement.
The previous inspection also rated the service Good. This inspection was planned because of that previous rating. CQC said it would continue monitoring information about the service and inspect sooner if concerns arose.
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives spoke positively about the care. Inspectors saw staff spending time with people, treating them respectfully and supporting their independence.
“We saw a warm and caring approach by staff with positive and kind interactions between staff and people.” from the report
Safe medicines support
Medicines were stored securely and records were up to date. Staff involved people in taking their medicines and had relevant training and competency checks.
“People's medicines were stored and managed so that they received them safely.” from the report
Personalised activities
The home offered varied activities and supported people to follow their interests and access the local community. Staff knew people's likes, dislikes and personal histories.
“The Wedge Residential Home provided a range of activities enabling people to live fulfilled lives.” from the report
Responsive management
The manager was visible and approachable. People and relatives said they could raise concerns informally and that issues were dealt with promptly.
“The registered manager was pro-active in ensuring they were visible within the home and operated an open-door policy.” from the report
Good food and nutrition support
People were positive about the food. They were offered choices, could access food and drinks during the day, and their weight was monitored.
“People were encouraged to maintain a healthy, balanced diet, based on their individual needs and could access food and drink when they wanted to.” from the report
Falls records
needs fixingSome falls care plans and risk assessments did not contain enough information to guide staff after a fall. The manager responded promptly during the inspection and provided additional advice.
“care plans and risk assessments relating to falls risks did not always contain sufficient information to enable staff to carry out support safely following a fall.” from the report
Best interest records
needs fixingSome electronic records about mental capacity and best interest decisions were not clear. The manager said the electronic system would be changed.
“some of the electronic records referencing mental capacity were not always clear.” from the report
Quality audits
needs fixingSome audits were completed regularly but did not clearly record what had been found or what action was needed. CQC recommended reviewing the quality assurance system.
“some of the quality assurance audits were not consistently effective in monitoring the quality of care provided.” from the report
Recruitment records
minorSome staff files had gaps in employment histories. The missing information was gathered after inspectors raised this.
“for some of the recruitment files reviewed that there were gaps in the employment histories.” from the report
- 01Have all falls risk assessments been updated so they clearly explain what staff should do after a fall?
- 02Have the electronic records for mental capacity and best interest decisions been changed, and how do you check that they are clear?
- 03What do your current care plan audits record, and how do you make sure any actions are completed?
- 04Are all staff recruitment files now complete, including full employment histories?
- 05Has the upstairs bathroom suite been replaced as planned?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, following the previous Good rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 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 The Wedge Residential Home
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 29 November 2010.
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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26 live-in carers within about an hour of Hampshire
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 £1,260 a week. 23 can care for a couple. 14 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.