Wantage Nursing Home

Risks to people's safety and well-being were managed through a risk management process. There were sufficient staff deployed to meet people's needs.

Medicines were managed safely, and people received their medicines as prescribed. The provider had made significant changes and ensured there were clear processes and procedures to manage all aspects of medicines safely.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

The provider had made improvements to ensure people's care and support was planned and delivered in line with current evidence-based guidance, standards, best practice and legislation. Records showed people's needs were assessed before they came to live at Wantage. The provider was still in the process of improving the environment for people living with dementia in line with good practice guidance for helping people to be stimulated and orientated.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff had a particularly good understanding of when the principles of the Mental Capacity Act should be applied. People were supported to meet their nutritional needs and commented that food choices had improved.

The home was well-led by a registered manager who was committed to improving people's quality of life. We received positive feedback about the management of the home from people, relatives and staff. The provider and registered manager had made significant changes to the service. They had developed effective quality assurance processes which were used to improve people's care. The service had a clear management and staffing structure in place and staff worked well as a team. Staff worked well with external social and health care professionals.

Rating at last inspection and update The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 17 June 2019) and there was a breach in Regulation 17. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.