CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Walton House Nursing Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about PPE use, testing, cleaning, safe admissions, visiting arrangements and outbreak planning. They also found the home had measures to manage COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- 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, February 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection-control practice and enough staff.
This was a targeted inspection on 20 January 2022. It focused on infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic, and on staffing pressures. The inspection was announced with one day's notice.
Inspectors found staff were trained in infection control and using protective equipment correctly. The home was clean and tidy, testing was taking place, and there were systems for safe admissions, visits and managing outbreaks.
The home told inspectors it had enough staff and plans for possible COVID-19-related staff shortages. The service was meeting the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for non-exempt staff and visiting professionals.
This inspection was not given a quality rating. The Safe question was marked 'Inspected but not rated', and the other four questions were not assessed in this report.
Staff training and PPE
Staff had relevant infection-control and PPE training. Inspectors saw PPE being used correctly and were told supplies were available.
“Staff had received relevant training in infection prevention and control and, donning and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE).” from the report
Visiting arrangements
The home had systems to support visits in line with guidance. An essential care giver arrangement was in place for at least one relative.
“Systems had been developed in line with guidance to ensure people were enabled to receive visitors in the service.” from the report
Clean environment
The home was clean and tidy. Cleaning schedules were completed and audits were carried out.
“The service was clean and tidy and dedicated housekeeping staff were in place to undertake housekeeping duties.” from the report
Staffing
People spoken with said there were enough staff to provide care and support. The home also had plans for staffing shortages linked to COVID-19.
“All people we spoke with told us there was enough staff to deliver care and support to people.” from the report
PPE stations needed restocking
minorSome PPE stations needed restocking during the visit. The report says this was dealt with immediately and that staff had enough supplies elsewhere.
“Where some PPE stations required restocking the registered manager confirmed all staff had a plentiful supply available to them and the PPE stations were restocked immediately.” from the report
- 01How do you check that all PPE stations are stocked throughout the day?
- 02What happens to staffing levels if several staff are absent because of COVID-19?
- 03How are essential care giver visits arranged and reviewed?
- 04How often are residents, visitors and staff tested, and what happens after a positive result?
- 05What is the current plan for preventing and managing an infection outbreak?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and staffing pressures; it did not provide a full rating across all five questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 February 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.
What inspectors found, April 2020
Walton House Nursing Home rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe care, but records and medicines checks needed improvement.
This was an unannounced inspection on 10 March 2020. Inspectors spoke with people living there, relatives, staff and a professional. They observed care and reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff files and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People said they were happy with their care. Inspectors saw staff treating people with kindness and found enough staff on duty.
There were some areas to improve. Medicines fridge records and staff medicines checks were not detailed enough. Some consent forms and care plans were not recorded correctly or kept up to date. The manager took immediate action, and inspectors made three recommendations.
Enough staff
Inspectors found staffing numbers were sufficient. People and relatives were confident in the staff team's skills.
“Staff were recruited safely. Staffing numbers were sufficient.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People were happy with their care. Inspectors saw staff respecting people's dignity and individual needs.
“We observed staff treating people with kindness; respecting their dignity and individual, diverse needs.” from the report
Activities and social contact
A range of activities was available, and inspectors saw people enjoying activities during the visit.
“The best thing about living here is the entertainment I would give it 100%.” from the report
Positive management
People, relatives and staff gave positive feedback about the manager. The home used audits, meetings and feedback to monitor the service.
“Audits and monitoring of the service was ongoing.” from the report
Medicines storage records
needs fixingSome fridge temperature readings were outside the recommended range. Records did not show what action staff had taken in response.
“There was no record to confirm what action staff had taken as a result of the readings.” from the report
Medicines competency checks
needs fixingThe staff medicines competency records inspectors reviewed were basic and lacked detail. The manager introduced a more detailed assessment during the inspection.
“However, the competency records we looked at were basic and lacked detail.” from the report
Consent records
needs fixingTwo consent forms had been signed by family members who did not have authority to consent on the person's behalf. The manager began an immediate investigation.
“We saw a consent form for two people had been signed by a family member where they did not have the authority to consent on the persons behalf.” from the report
Care plans not always current
needs fixingOne care plan did not reflect a change in the person's condition, and another did not cover current end of life care needs. The manager reviewed and updated the plans.
“A second persons care plan had not been updated to support their end of life care needs.” from the report
Night-time call response
needs fixingOne person said staff did not always come quickly when they used the call buzzer at night. The manager started an investigation into timely support.
“If I ring my buzzer at night they don't always come quickly.” from the report
- 01How do you now record and act on medicines fridge temperatures that are outside the recommended range?
- 02How do you check that staff remain competent to administer medicines safely?
- 03How do you make sure consent is recorded by the person or someone with the proper authority?
- 04How often are care plans checked and updated when people's condition or end of life needs change?
- 05What did your investigation find about delays responding to call buzzers at night?
This was an unannounced planned inspection that assessed all five CQC questions and reviewed the care provided, the premises and how the home was managed. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 April 2020 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 Walton House Nursing Home
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- April 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2015
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 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 26 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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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.
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