CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Wisteria House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People told inspectors they felt safe. Staff understood safeguarding, risk assessments were reviewed, medicines records showed medicines were given as prescribed, and staffing was described as sufficient for people's needs.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs and choices were assessed, staff had relevant training and supervision, and people were supported with food, health appointments and decisions about their care.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and relatives described staff as kind, respectful and unhurried. Inspectors saw staff listening to people, explaining situations and supporting their choices, privacy and independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans recorded people's preferences, interests and communication needs and were regularly reviewed. People were supported to take part in activities, go out and maintain relationships.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had clear management arrangements, regular meetings, audits and systems for involving people, relatives and staff. The manager was developing staff skills in carrying out audits.
What inspectors found, February 2020
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some audit skills still being developed.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 16 January 2020. One inspector spoke with two people living at the home, managers and care staff. They reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff files and management records, and later spoke with three relatives.
The home provided personal care for up to seven people with learning disabilities and/or autism. All seven places were occupied. Inspectors found people were safe, treated with kindness and supported to make choices, build independence and take part in activities.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was the same overall rating and the same rating in each area as at the previous inspection, published in July 2017.
Personalised support
Care plans recorded people's needs, preferences and life histories. Staff knew the plans and adapted support to people's choices.
“How to provide the support required was detailed and clearly written in people's care plans which were divided into sections and included people's life histories.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were supported to decide how they spent their days, when they got up and went to bed, and how they used their rooms.
“The staff promoted independence by discussing and offering options and supporting the choices made.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives said staff treated people well. Inspectors observed positive communication and support that was not rushed.
“Relatives considered the staff had time to support their relatives and they were not rushed.” from the report
Activities and community life
People were supported to enjoy activities together and individually, and to access the community for events and personal interests.
“Staff supported people to access the community for a range of events and activities each week.” from the report
Involvement in the home
People's views were sought about the service, including its communal decoration and the recruitment of staff.
“The registered manager involved people using the service to engage in the staff recruitment process.” from the report
Audit skills still developing
minorThe manager was still supporting staff to develop their skills in completing audits. This was not given a separate rating or described as a breach.
“The registered manager was supporting staff through delegation and supervision so that they developed their skills in carrying out audits.” from the report
One staffing vacancy
minorThere was one staff vacancy at the inspection. A relative wanted a female staff member always on duty, and the manager said this would be possible once the vacancy was filled.
“We were aware that the service only had one staff vacancy left to fill” from the report
- 01Has the staff vacancy mentioned in the report now been filled?
- 02How do you ensure there is always enough staff to meet each person's needs?
- 03How are people involved in staff recruitment and how is their consent considered when personal care is provided?
- 04What progress has been made in developing staff skills to complete audits?
- 05How are care plans reviewed when a person's needs, preferences or communication needs change?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the care provided, premises, care plans, medicines, staffing and management records. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 February 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, July 2017
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with a new care-planning system still being introduced.
This was a comprehensive, announced inspection on 30 June 2017. Inspectors spoke with four people, observed how staff supported people, reviewed two care records and checked management records.
The home supported seven people with learning disabilities or mild mental health issues. Inspectors found that people were safe, medicines were managed properly, staffing was suitable and recruitment checks were completed.
People were supported by trained staff who understood their needs. They were involved in decisions about their care, meals, activities and contact with family. Inspectors also found kind relationships and personalised care.
The overall rating was Good, with Good ratings for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The home remained Good, the same as at the previous inspection on 31 March 2015.
Safe support
Inspectors found that risks were assessed and managed, including risks linked to going out, finances, equipment and the home environment. Medicines were administered safely and checked through regular audits.
“Records showed that medicines were given to people when they needed them and kept safely in the service.” from the report
Personal choice
People were involved in decisions about their care, food, bedrooms and activities. Staff supported independence while providing help when needed.
“People told us that they continued to make decisions about their care and that staff listened to what they said.” from the report
Kind relationships
Inspectors saw staff treating people with kindness and respect. Staff understood the importance of dignity, privacy, independence and choice.
“Staff interacted with people in a kind and caring way.” from the report
Individual activities
People were supported to attend day services, go out, spend time with relatives and take part in activities they enjoyed. They also helped with their home and personal spaces.
“This meant that people undertook meaningful daily activities and took responsibility for their home.” from the report
Quality checks
Management used audits, meetings and questionnaires to identify problems and make improvements. Inspectors saw action plans showing that shortfalls were addressed.
“Where shortfalls were identified, records demonstrated that these were acted upon, including in action plans.” from the report
Care-planning system still being introduced
minorA computerised care-planning system had recently been installed, but it was not complete at the inspection. The remaining care plans still needed to be added.
“The system was not yet fully implemented and the director of specialist services told us that the next step would be to input all the care plans onto the system.” from the report
- 01How far has the computerised care-planning system been completed, and are all care plans now included?
- 02How do you make sure there are enough staff when residents want to go out?
- 03How will you support my relative's specific dietary, health and emotional needs?
- 04How can my relative or family raise a complaint, and how will it be followed up?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five questions, and the Good ratings remained unchanged from the inspection on 31 March 2015. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 July 2017 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 Wisteria House
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2020Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 16 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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23 live-in carers within about an hour of Suffolk
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. 17 can care for a couple. 7 years' experience on average.
“Not only was she professional, polite and efficient but she bought a lovely smile and laughter to my parents home.”
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