The Old Vicarage Care Home

On this page

• Overview
• Shared direction and culture
• Capable, compassionate and inclusive leaders
• Freedom to speak up
• Workforce equality, diversity and inclusion
• Governance, management and sustainability
• Partnerships and communities
• Learning, improvement and innovation

Well-led – this means we looked for evidence that service leadership, management and governance assured high-quality, person-centred care; supported learning and innovation; and promoted an open, fair culture.

At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant the service was consistently managed and well-led. Leaders and the culture they created promoted high-quality, person-centred care.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

We did not look at Shared direction and culture during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Well-led.

We did not look at Capable, compassionate and inclusive leaders during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Well-led.

The service fostered a positive culture where people felt they could speak up and their voice would be heard.

Staff told us of improvements in the support they received following the appointment of the registered manager. Comments included, “I feel that at times the management within the service had been rocky, but there has been a positive change recently”, “They are the first to help when we are short staffed due to sickness. I have never worked with a manager that would do that for their team” and, “The registered manager has really improved the home. They always have time to listen to the residents, their families and staff alike.”

In response to concerns reported by staff about the quality of care in the service, the provider held a number of meetings with staff at all levels and introduced a direct point of contact for staff to raise concerns with.

People and their relatives told us they were confident any concerns reported to staff, or the registered manager, had been acted upon.

Information was on display on noticeboards throughout the home to give staff guidance on who they could report concerns to both internally and externally.

The service valued diversity in their workforce. They work towards an inclusive and fair culture by improving equality and equity for people who work for them.

Policies and procedures incorporated all aspects of recruitment and staffing. This had included retention plans, equality, diversity, fairness and protected characteristics. Support and reasonable adjustments were made for staff as and when needed. A number of staff spoke highly of the flexibility they were offered to support a work life balance. For example, a staff member stated, “The registered manager has been very understanding of my family circumstances and always asks how I am.”

Other resources were available to assist staff with their physical and mental health. This included an appointed mental health first aider, so that staff had the necessary services to thrive in their roles.

The service had clear responsibilities, roles, systems of accountability and good governance. They used these to manage and deliver good quality, sustainable care, treatment and support. They act on the best information about risk, performance and outcomes, and share this securely with others when appropriate.

During the inspection the provider informed us, “At The Old Vicarage Care Home and across Healthcare Homes we are continually looking to improve. We are listening to feedback and being proactive to act on learning opportunities from internal audits and inspections from stakeholders and CQC.”

Risks to people's safety were effectively managed and monitored. Audits of people’s individual health demonstrated follow up actions were taken to enhance people’s wellbeing. For example, a person told us, “After I had a fall out of bed, the staff asked me what I wanted to do, and I told them I would feel much safer with bed rails up.”

Relatives and visiting professionals were complimentary about the leadership and care people received from the service. Comments included: “I honestly can’t think of any significant negatives and any problems we have encountered, we have fed back and they have been swiftly dealt with”, “I must reiterate both management and staff are tireless in their care” and, “On occasions we have had to raise a couple of minor issues with the management, which have been responded to and changes have been made.”

We did not look at Partnerships and communities during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Well-led.

We did not look at Learning, improvement and innovation during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Well-led.