CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Waltham House Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Staff were safely recruited, risks were reviewed, medicines were generally managed safely, and infection controls were mostly effective.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home was consistently managed and staff and managers understood their roles. Audits and feedback systems were in place, although some records did not always reflect people's needs.
What inspectors found, March 2023
Waltham House Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found people felt safe and well cared for, but records and some medicine storage needed improvement.
This was an unannounced inspection on 22 March 2023. One inspector spoke with people, relatives and staff, reviewed care, medicine and recruitment records, and checked the building and infection control practices.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. People said they felt safe and well looked after. Staff were safely recruited, risks were assessed, medicines were generally managed safely, and the home was clean and well maintained overall.
Inspectors found that some records did not always show people's needs clearly. Some medicines were not stored in the temperature-controlled room, and some areas needed refurbishment to make cleaning easier. The CQC recommended improving the recording system.
People felt safe
People and relatives told inspectors that people felt safe and well looked after. Staff had safeguarding training and knew how to report concerns.
“People were happy with the care they received, they felt safe and well looked after.” from the report
Safe recruitment and staffing
Recruitment checks had been completed, and inspectors found staffing levels were safe. The home considered increasing staff support when people's needs required it.
“Recruitment files showed all pre-employment checks had been made to ensure only staff who were suitable to work with vulnerable people were employed.” from the report
Positive management
The manager was visible and approachable. People and staff were involved in meetings and were asked for their views.
“Waltham House Care Home was welcoming, and the atmosphere was warm and supportive.” from the report
Learning from incidents
Incidents and safeguarding concerns were monitored. Learning was shared with staff to reduce the risk of problems happening again.
“Learning was shared through discussions at staff meetings and regular staff newsletters.” from the report
Medicine storage
needs fixingSome medicines were not stored in the temperature-controlled room, although temperature records were completed and other medicine processes were found to be safe. The provider said this would be addressed immediately.
“However, medicines were not always stored in this temperature controlled room.” from the report
Incomplete care records
needs fixingFood and fluid records did not always show the requirements set out in people's care files. The CQC recommended a better system for making sure records reflect people's needs.
“Records did not always evidence important information about people using the service.” from the report
Some areas needed refurbishment
minorInspectors were only somewhat assured about the layout and hygiene of the premises because some areas needed refurbishment to support effective cleaning.
“Some areas of the care home required refurbishment to enable more effective cleaning.” from the report
- 01Have all medicines been moved into the temperature-controlled room, and how do you now check this?
- 02What changes have you made to ensure food and fluid charts match each person's care plan?
- 03Which areas need refurbishment to improve cleaning, and when will this work be completed?
- 04What were the previous ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive, which were not assessed in this inspection?
- 05How do you use people's and relatives' feedback to make improvements?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led, including infection prevention and control; the other key question ratings were carried forward from the last inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 30 March 2023 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, March 2022
Waltham House Care Home is rated Good overall and is no longer in special measures, but inspectors rated its leadership Requires Improvement.
This was an unannounced follow-up inspection on 16 February 2022. Two inspectors spoke with people, relatives and staff. They reviewed care records, medicines records, staff files and management records, and followed up information after the inspection.
Inspectors found clear improvements since the previous inspection. Care records and risk assessments were better, fire safety had improved, night staffing was stronger, and medicines were managed safely using a new electronic system. People and relatives generally said people felt safe and received good care.
Safe and Effective were rated Good. Well-led was rated Requires Improvement because some medicines audit records did not clearly show what action had been taken or what had been learned. Some relatives also said communication was not always clear.
The previous inspection had rated the service Inadequate, with several legal breaches, and it had been in special measures. This inspection found the breaches had been resolved and the service was no longer in special measures. The report has an inconsistency: its rating table says the overall rating is Good, but a later paragraph says it changed from Inadequate to Requires Improvement.
Improved safety records
Care records included people's needs, preferences and risks. Fire safety checks, drills and emergency evacuation plans had also improved.
“Care records contained information about people's needs and risks.” from the report
Safer medicines systems
A new electronic system improved medicines recording and oversight. Staff had medicines training and their competence was checked.
“Since the last inspection robust systems had been put in place to ensure the safe management of medicines, with the introduction of an electronic recording system.” from the report
Staffing and support
Inspectors found appropriate staffing levels, including improvements at night. People said they did not have to wait for support.
“People told us that they did not have to wait for support from staff.” from the report
Respect for choices
Care plans reflected mental capacity and best-interest decisions. Inspectors saw staff offering choices and respecting people's wishes.
“We observed staff giving people choices and respecting their wishes.” from the report
Audit follow-up
needs fixingThe service did not always record what it had done after problems were found in medicines audits, or what lessons had been learned. This was part of the reason for the Requires Improvement rating for Well-led.
“However, where issues had been identified in medicines audits, there was little record of actions taken or lessons learnt from these incidents.” from the report
Communication with relatives
minorSome relatives said communication was not always clear. One relative said they had to contact the home for updates and could sometimes find it difficult to reach the manager.
“The manager would not ring you unless there is something wrong, if you want an update you have to ring them yourself and staff do not always know the answers.” from the report
- 01What action has been taken, and what lessons have been recorded, after issues were found in medicines audits?
- 02Who should relatives contact for routine updates, and how quickly will they receive a response?
- 03How are staffing levels, including night staffing, checked against each person's needs?
- 04How often are fire drills and personal emergency evacuation plans reviewed?
- 05What evidence can you show that the improvements made since the previous Inadequate inspection have been maintained?
This was an unannounced follow-up inspection covering Safe, Effective and Well-led; separate ratings were not given for Caring or Responsive, and the report contains conflicting statements about the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 31 March 2022 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 Waltham House Care Home
6 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2022Goodup from InadequateSafe: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- January 2022InadequateSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- November 2020Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- February 2020Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- February 2019Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 9 December 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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12 live-in carers within about an hour of North East Lincolnshire
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 £1,350 a week. 10 can care for a couple. 7 years' experience on average.
“What truly stands out is how mindful and attentive she is to all of my medical needs, always going above and beyond to ensure I’m comfortable and well cared for.”
“Martin was more than a carer, he managed the home and became my uncle's best friend, enriching his life during his last few years.”
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.