CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Wheatlands
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People told inspectors they felt safe. Risks were assessed, medicines were managed by trained staff, and the home had arrangements for fire safety and infection control.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. The previous rating was carried forward to calculate the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. The previous rating was carried forward to calculate the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. The previous rating was carried forward to calculate the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found effective quality checks, good staff support and a positive atmosphere. The home acted on feedback and worked with health and social care professionals.
What inspectors found, December 2022
Rated Good; inspectors found people were safe and the home was well-led, but this was a focused inspection of only two areas.
Inspectors visited without notice on 23 November 2022. They spoke with people living at the home, relatives and staff. They reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff files, training records and health and safety records.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe and Well-led were also rated Good. Inspectors found that people felt safe, risks were assessed, medicines were given safely and infection control arrangements were suitable.
Inspectors found effective checks on care plans, medicines, the environment and people's health. Staff said they felt supported, and people and relatives were asked for their views.
This was a focused inspection after concerns about general care and welfare. Caring, Effective and Responsive were not inspected, so their previous ratings from 2019 were used in the overall rating. The overall Good rating remained unchanged.
People felt safe
People and relatives told inspectors that people were safe and well cared for. Staff understood how to recognise and report possible abuse.
“People told us they felt safe living at the home and with the staff who supported them.” from the report
Safe medicines practice
Medicines were given by trained and competent staff. Records showed medicines received, given and disposed of were tracked.
“People received their medicines from staff who were trained and deemed competent to carry out the task.” from the report
Good risk management
Risks linked to mobility, nutrition, hydration and skin condition were assessed. Plans were in place to reduce these risks.
“Risks to people were regularly assessed and there were plans in place to help mitigate risks.” from the report
Staff support and morale
Staff reported feeling supported, and inspectors found a happy and relaxed atmosphere. Training and competence were monitored.
“Staff morale was good and there was a happy and relaxed atmosphere in the home.” from the report
Listening to feedback
The home collected feedback from people, relatives and staff. It made changes such as adding quizzes and exercises after feedback.
“Following feedback from surveys, the management team produced a 'You said, we did' information sheet” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What changes have been made in response to the concerns about general care and welfare that led to this focused inspection?
- 02How often are my relative's care plans and risk assessments reviewed, especially if their health, mobility or distress changes?
- 03How do you check that medicines are given correctly and that records remain complete?
- 04What are the current ratings and evidence for Caring, Effective and Responsive, which were not assessed during this inspection?
- 05Has the manager's application to register with the CQC now been completed?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive were carried forward from the previous inspection published on 19 July 2019. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 December 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, February 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 5 February 2021. It looked only at infection prevention and control because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors were assured that the home used personal protective equipment safely, managed visitors, testing and admissions, and followed shielding and social distancing rules. They also found the home clean, hygienic and uncluttered.
The home had separate staff groups where possible, a visiting process, cleaning checks and arrangements for people who needed to self-isolate. Activities were adapted so people could keep social contact safely.
The home was inspected but not rated. This report does not give an overall quality rating, and it did not assess all five areas of care.
Visitor safety
Visitors received hand hygiene guidance and their own supplies. Used items were stored and sanitised.
“Visitors were provided with a lanyard with their own personal hand sanitiser, hand washing pictorial guidance and a new pen that they could use during their visit.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean and uncluttered. Extra cleaning time and daily checks had been introduced.
“The home was clean, hygienic and uncluttered.” from the report
Social contact
Activities were adapted so people could maintain social and emotional wellbeing while following infection control guidance.
“People were encouraged to engage in an activity programme to promote their social and emotional wellbeing that had been adapted to ensure compliance with current guidance.” from the report
Learning from outbreaks
The registered manager reviewed what had worked well during an outbreak and put actions in place to reduce future risks.
“This information was collated and shared with staff and actions were put in place to mitigate risk and improve the service going forward.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What is the home's current visiting policy, and how is it different from the arrangements described in this report?
- 02How are staff cohorts organised now, and can staff work across different parts of the home?
- 03How does the home manage testing and self-isolation when a resident or staff member tests positive?
- 04What is the home's most recent full CQC rating for caring, effective care, responsiveness and leadership?
- 05How are activities and contact with relatives provided when infection control restrictions are in place?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control only; the service was inspected but not rated and the other care areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 20 February 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.
Every inspection of Wheatlands
3 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- July 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 February 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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