Halwill Manor Nursing Home

We found the following examples of good practice.

Staff were following current infection prevention and control guidance to help people to stay safe. There were suitable risk assessments and an up to date infection control policy and procedure in place. The registered manager ensured staff understood why every measure was in place.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was readily available around the building. We saw there was a good supply of PPE for staff to use. Staff were observed to be wearing PPE appropriately and disposed of it in clinical waste bins. People's temperatures were taken on a daily basis to help monitor for signs of Covid 19. Whole home testing was undertaken, with frequency of testing people and staff in line with current guidance.

Staff had completed training to ensure they knew how to keep people safe during the Covid-19 pandemic. Staff had also been supported by external health professionals to ensure safe infection prevention and control measures were in place.

Infection prevention and control audits were carried out to ensure the premises was meeting infection control measures. A cleaning schedule for all areas of the home was in place and implemented to ensure the whole home was effectively cleaned on a regular basis.

Staff supported people to occupy themselves whilst maintaining their safety. Staff helped people to stay in touch with their families. Alternative forms of maintaining social contact were used for friends and relatives; for example: keeping in touch using video calls.

Facilities were in place to wash hands or use hand sanitiser on entering and leaving the home. Visitors were limited. There was a booking in system in place to stagger visits and allow time for cleaning. A visitors' screen had been introduced to allow visitors to visit people safely. This enabled safe visits to go ahead which ensured no contact with other people and minimal contact with staff.

Visitors were supported to wear a face covering when visiting, and wash hands before/after mask use. All visitors were screened for symptoms of acute respiratory infection and other signs of Covid-19 before being entering the home. There was prominent signage and instructions to explain what people should do to ensure safety. Information was easily accessible on arrival or before visits to ensure visitors followed guidance, procedures or protocols to ensure compliance with infection prevention control.

The registered manager communicated with people, staff and family members regularly to make sure everyone had an understanding of precautions being taken, and how to keep people safe.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found