Walton House Nursing Home

We found the following examples of good practice.

Staff had received relevant training in infection prevention and control and, donning and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE). We saw staff wearing PPE appropriately during the inspection, and all staff told us they had enough supplies to undertake their role safely. A relative and a person who used the service we spoke with told us staff wore PPE appropriately. A range of information and signage was available to support staff and visitors to use PPE safely. 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.

Systems had been developed in line with guidance to ensure people were enabled to receive visitors in the service. A family member we spoke with confirmed they had been nominated as an essential care giver for their relative.

The service was clean and tidy and dedicated housekeeping staff were in place to undertake housekeeping duties. Evidence of cleaning schedules were seen and completed in full. Audits were being undertaken regularly with their findings recorded.

A range of policies and procedures had been developed to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. Risk assessments had been developed for the service as well as individuals, visitors and staff. These included people from vulnerable groups. The registered manager confirmed that essential care givers had been included in the risk assessments following the visit to the service. A contingency plan had been developed to support and guide staff in the event of an outbreak.

Regular testing was ongoing in the service for people, visitors and staff. All staff had been fully vaccinated in line with current guidance. This helped to reduce risks for people, visitors and staff.

People were being admitted to the service safely. The registered manager confirmed they followed current guidance and linked in with the local authority and infection prevention and control team for support and guidance.

There was sufficient staff in the service. All people we spoke with told us there was enough staff to deliver care and support to people. The registered manager confirmed the measures they took in the event of staff shortages and, how to manage in the event of high numbers of staff absence due to positive COVID-19 testing results.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found