CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Wild Acres Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control measures were being followed. This included visitors, testing, admissions, protective equipment, cleaning and hygiene.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, November 2020
Wild Acres Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed safely.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 20 October 2020. Inspectors looked only at infection prevention and control measures during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors were assured that the home was managing visitors, testing, admissions, isolation, protective equipment, cleaning and hygiene safely. They also found that the infection control policy was up to date.
The report says the home had remained free of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. Staff and residents took part in regular testing, and new admissions or people returning from hospital were supported to isolate for 14 days.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the visit does not provide an overall quality rating for the home.
Regular testing
The home used regular testing for staff and residents as part of its infection control arrangements.
“People and staff actively volunteered to engage in the whole home testing programme, which ensured all staff were tested weekly and people were tested monthly.” from the report
Visitor safety
Staff followed infection control procedures for visitors, supported by a visiting policy and risk assessments.
“Visitors were effectively prevented from catching and spreading infection by staff who followed the provider's infection prevention and control (IPC) procedures.” from the report
Cleaning and hygiene
Inspectors found thorough hygiene practices, with oversight from a designated cleaning and decontamination lead.
“Consistently thorough hygiene practice, robustly overseen by the designated cleaning and decontamination lead, promoted and maintained safety in the home.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visits managed now, and how are visitor risks assessed?
- 02What testing arrangements are currently in place for residents and staff?
- 03How are new residents or people returning from hospital supported to isolate?
- 04How are staff trained to use personal protective equipment safely?
- 05How often is the infection prevention and control policy reviewed?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control measures only; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 November 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.
What inspectors found, October 2019
Rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, kind care, with Outstanding personalised support and activities.
This was an unannounced, comprehensive inspection on 6 August 2019. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and health and social care professionals. They observed care, medicines, meals and activities, and checked care plans, medicine records, staff files and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring and Well-led. It was rated Outstanding for Responsive. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicines practice, good healthcare support, kind care and strong management.
The home provided highly personalised care. Staff knew people well, supported relationships and interests, and worked with health professionals to provide very good end of life care. The Responsive rating improved from Good at the previous inspection to Outstanding.
Personalised care
Staff made strong efforts to understand people's histories, interests and preferences. This helped people take part in meaningful activities and achieve better quality of life.
“People had experienced exceptional person-centred care, which consistently achieved outstanding outcomes.” from the report
Activities and relationships
Activities were varied and tailored to individuals. The home also worked with families, volunteers, schools and community groups to help people maintain relationships and avoid loneliness.
“Arrangements for social activities were innovative, met people's individual needs, and followed best practice guidance to enable people to live as full a life as possible.” from the report
End of life care
The home worked closely with health professionals and respected people's wishes about where and how they wanted to be cared for at the end of life.
“The service worked closely with healthcare professionals and provided outstanding end of life care, which ensured people experienced a comfortable, dignified and pain-free death.” from the report
Safe medicines
Inspectors observed medicines being given respectfully and found records showing people received them as prescribed. Staff were trained and their competence was checked.
“Records demonstrated that people had received their medicines as prescribed, at the right time, in a way they preferred, in line with their medicine management plans.” from the report
Environment for dementia care
minorThe building had not originally been designed to support the independence and safety of older people or people living with dementia. Improvements to signs, lighting and decoration were under way and subject to continuing review.
“The home had not initially been designed to promote the independence and safety of older people or those who live with dementia.” from the report
- 01What environmental improvements have been made since the inspection to support people living with dementia?
- 02How do you make sure care plans are updated immediately when a person's needs change?
- 03How do you maintain continuity of care if regular staff are unavailable?
- 04What activities would you provide for my relative based on their past interests and abilities?
- 05How would you support my relative's wishes if they wanted to receive end of life care at the home?
This was an unannounced planned comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions; the previous overall rating was Good and Responsive improved from Good to Outstanding. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 October 2019 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 Wild Acres Care Home
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- November 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- October 2019GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- July 2018
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 18 July 2018.
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.
Weigh the report against the rest
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78 live-in carers within about an hour of Wokingham
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 £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 71 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“I can truly say that Peter always put Dad at the centre of everything and I know that they found a great friendship in difficult times.”
“Not only has she looked after him beautifully, she has also been great company for him with lively conversation, kindness and humour.”
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.