Vicarage Court Care Home

We found the following examples of good practice.

We observed systems and processes in place, in line with guidance, to ensure visitors to the home did not introduce and spread Covid-19. All visitors, including professionals were subject to a range of screening procedures, including showing evidence of vaccination and a negative lateral flow test before entry into the home was allowed.

Staff followed government guidance in relation to personal protective equipment (PPE). We saw all staff were wearing face masks. Hand sanitiser and PPE was readily available throughout the service. The home had sufficient supplies of PPE.

All staff and people living at the home were being Covid-19 tested in line with current guidance. Appropriate processes were in place should anyone display any symptoms of Covid-19.

The care home was clean, well maintained and odour-free. There were cleaning schedules in place.

Staff supported people's social and emotional wellbeing. Alternative forms of maintaining social contact were in place including video calls. The home had made adaptations to create a visitors' 'pod' to allow partitioned visiting without having to enter the care home. At the time of our inspection the home had briefly paused some family visits as a precautionary measure as some staff had tested Covid positive. Visiting was due to resume in line with guidance.

All staff had undertaken training in infection prevention and control (IPC) and PPE.

Policies and audits relating to infection prevention control, including coronavirus were up-to-date. We saw that regular IPC audits had been undertaken and the home had actioned the findings of the audits.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found