CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Walc House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff, suitable recruitment checks, safe medicines systems and staff who understood safeguarding and individual risks. Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans were not in place at the inspection, and one risk assessment did not explain privacy and dignity arrangements clearly.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had relevant training and supported people with healthcare, food and communication needs. Some mental capacity and best interest records were still under review, and staff supervision and appraisals were being brought up to date.
- Caring?
- Good
- Relatives and professionals described staff as kind and caring. Inspectors observed respect for privacy, dignity and personal choice, with support for communication, independence and family contact.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were personalised and changed when people's needs changed. People were supported with activities, trips, shopping, meals and access to the community, and a complaints process was in place.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found visible leadership, good teamwork and effective quality checks. The home worked with other agencies and used incidents and audits to identify improvements.
What inspectors found, November 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, personalised care, but some safety and record-keeping actions were still needed.
The announced inspection took place on 22 September 2018. The inspector reviewed care files, medicines records, staff files, risk assessments, incidents, complaints and quality checks. They also observed care and spoke with the manager, care staff, relatives and health and social care professionals.
The home supported four people with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorder. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicines systems and suitable recruitment checks. People were treated with kindness and respect, supported to communicate in their preferred way, and helped to make choices and live more independently.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was the same as at the previous inspection, so the report was written in a shorter format. Inspectors found no serious risks or concerns that changed the overall rating.
Kind and respectful care
Staff were described as kind and caring, and inspectors saw people being treated as individuals with respect for their privacy and dignity.
“People are respected for who they are and treated as individuals.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans reflected people's needs, histories, interests and communication methods. Staff supported people to make choices and become more independent.
“Care plans are very personalised and reflect people's needs.” from the report
Strong management checks
The manager used audits, staff observation and incident reviews to monitor care and make improvements.
“These systems were robust, effective, regularly monitored and ensured improvement actions were taken promptly.” from the report
Emergency evacuation plans
seriousPeople did not have Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans explaining how staff should support them during a fire. The manager said these would be completed as a priority.
“However people did not have Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) in place.” from the report
Privacy guidance in risk assessments
needs fixingOne seizure-related risk assessment did not clearly tell staff how to protect the person's privacy and dignity during bathing. The manager said this would be added.
“However, the risk assessment did not make it clear that staff should respect the people's privacy and dignity.” from the report
Records being brought up to date
needs fixingSome mental capacity and best interest paperwork was still under review. The manager also said staff supervision and appraisals were a little behind.
“Other areas such as; positive behaviour plans, delivery of personal care, medicines and access to the community were under review.” from the report
End of life planning
minorThe manager was beginning to explore people's end of life wishes and preferences. No one was receiving end of life care during the inspection.
“The registered manager was starting to explore opportunities to identify and understand people's end of life wishes and preferences.” from the report
- 01Have Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans now been completed for everyone, and when were they last reviewed?
- 02How have risk assessments been changed to make sure privacy and dignity are covered during activities such as bathing?
- 03Are all mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions now complete for behaviour support, personal care, medicines and community access?
- 04Are staff supervision meetings and annual appraisals now up to date?
- 05How are people's end of life wishes and preferences being recorded and reviewed?
This was an announced inspection covering all five questions and the overall rating; two people were away, so inspectors mainly observed care and used feedback from relatives and professionals. This explanation was written from the published report of 2 November 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 Walc House
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- November 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 25 October 2012.
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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15 live-in carers within about an hour of Dorset
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 £1,040 to £1,340 a week. 11 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Even when things get a bit chaotic (as they sometimes do!), you’ve handled it with patience and a sense of humour — which is gold.”
“Nina was patient, focussed on my aunt's physical well-being, and unfazed by what at the time was a new and uncertain situation”
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.