CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Victoria House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control procedures were being followed. This included PPE, cleaning, testing, isolation, visiting arrangements and the management of outbreaks.
- Effective?
- Good
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, January 2021
Victoria House was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control arrangements were safe.
The inspection took place on 22 December 2020 and was announced. It was a targeted inspection during a coronavirus outbreak, focused on infection prevention and control.
Inspectors found that staff used suitable personal protective equipment and that frequently touched areas were cleaned often. People were isolating when needed, and staff and residents were tested regularly.
Visitors had to book, complete symptom checks, wear protective equipment and keep their distance. The home was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Protective equipment and cleaning
Staff used suitable protective equipment. The home increased cleaning, especially of areas people touched often.
“Staff wore appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure people were protected as much as possible from the risk of cross infection.” from the report
Testing and outbreak arrangements
The home was following national guidance. People were isolating appropriately and staff and residents were tested regularly.
“People were isolating appropriately to reduce the spread of the virus and staff and people living at the home were being tested regularly.” from the report
Visitor controls
Visits were booked and limited. Visitors were screened, wore PPE and were required to keep their distance.
“Visitors were required to book an appointment, to ensure the number of people visiting the home at any one time was limited.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What are the current arrangements for visiting, including booking, screening, PPE and social distancing?
- 02How are residents and staff currently tested for infections, and what happens if someone tests positive?
- 03How often are frequently touched areas cleaned now, and how is this checked?
- 04When was the home's full inspection, and what were the ratings for care, staffing, medicines and management?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during a coronavirus outbreak; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 January 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 2018
Victoria House was rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, kind care and improvements since 2017, but staff skills and support needed further attention.
This was a comprehensive inspection over three days in November 2018. The first day was unannounced. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and healthcare professionals. They also checked care records, medicines, recruitment, training, complaints, safety checks and audits.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practice, suitable care records, kind and respectful support, personalised care and effective checks on quality and safety.
The home had improved since a 2017 breach about meeting the needs of people with dementia or sensory impairment. However, inspectors recommended further work so staff had the knowledge and skills to support people with mental health needs and health conditions. Some staff had also not received supervision in line with the home's policy.
Kind and respectful care
People said staff were caring and kind. Inspectors saw staff protecting privacy, listening to choices and supporting people patiently.
“We observed staff respecting people's privacy and dignity by knocking on their doors, speaking to them respectfully, listening to their choices and using their preferred name.” from the report
Personalised support
Care records included people's needs, risks, likes and dislikes. Staff knew people's routines and supported everyday choices.
“Care files were personalised and contained information about what people were able to do for themselves, what support was needed and how this should be provided by staff to reflect people's preferences.” from the report
Improvement since the previous inspection
The home had improved activities and stimulation for people with dementia or sensory impairment. This addressed the issue found at the 2017 inspection.
“At this inspection we found that improvements had been made.” from the report
Quality checks
The manager, senior staff and provider carried out regular checks on medicines, safety, care records and other areas. Inspectors found these checks effective.
“We found the audits completed were effective in ensuring that appropriate levels of quality and safety were being maintained at the service.” from the report
Staff knowledge of some needs
needs fixingStaff raised concerns about supporting people with mental health needs and said they did not feel confident. One person also said not all staff knew how to support a health condition.
“We recommend that the provider ensures the service can meet the needs of people living at Victoria House and that staff have the knowledge and skills necessary to provide people with safe, effective care.” from the report
Medicines cover at night
needs fixingThere was not always a medicines-trained staff member on duty at night. The manager said this would be addressed, especially if someone needed an as-needed medicine.
“Staff told us there was not always a medicines trained member of staff on duty at night.” from the report
Staff supervision
needs fixingSome staff had not received supervision or an appraisal for some time, despite the home's policy. The manager arranged supervision shortly after the inspection.
“Not all staff had received supervision in line with the provider's supervision policy.” from the report
Safety and infection-control actions
needs fixingSome fire risk assessment actions had not been completed, and inspectors noticed an odour in two bedrooms. The provider arranged action shortly after the inspection.
“We noted that a fire risk assessment had been carried out in January 2018 but not all necessary actions had been completed.” from the report
Recording activities
minorPeople's participation or lack of interest in activities was recorded, but not daily. The manager said daily recording would be introduced.
“We noted that people's participation and lack of interest in activities had been recorded, though this was not done daily.” from the report
- 01What training has every member of staff completed for supporting people with mental health needs?
- 02How do you make sure all staff understand and can support my relative's specific health conditions?
- 03Who is medicines-trained on duty overnight, and what happens if someone needs an as-needed medicine?
- 04Have all actions from the fire risk assessment and the bedroom flooring issue now been completed?
- 05How are staff concerns recorded, followed up and communicated back to staff?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions, and it found that improvements had been made since the previous inspection in September 2017. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 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 Victoria House
4 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
- May 2017Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- February 2015GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 5 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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85 live-in carers within about an hour of Lancashire
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 £980 to £1,260 a week. 78 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She understands the needs of an elderly person in the early stages of dementia and has treated my mother with great kindness and skill.”
“Thanks to Tracy, Dad was always immaculately dressed and clean, his meals were all home cooked and nutritionally well balanced and his home was always kept really clean and tidy.”
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.