Prince of Wales Nursing Home

Updated 5 September 2020

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place. As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are conducting a thematic review of infection control and prevention measures in care homes.

This inspection took place on 25 August 2020 and was announced. The service was selected to take part in this thematic review which is seeking to identify examples of good practice in infection prevention and control.

Updated 5 September 2020

This inspection took place on 21 September 2018 and was unannounced.

Prince of Wales is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. Prince of Wales provides nursing and care for up to 20 people. The home is set in a large purpose built building. There were 20 people living at the home at the time of our inspection, most of whom were older people including those living with dementia.

At our last inspection we rated the service Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

A registered manager was in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People felt comfortable around staff and received continuity of care from familiar staff. People and their families understood if they had any concerns about their personal safety they could speak with staff or the registered manager and a system for recording and sharing concerns was in place. Risks to people’s health were recorded for staff to refer to and reviewed and updated in line with people’s needs. Staff were available at the times people needed them and staffing levels were reviewed and monitored by the registered manager. Adjustments to staffing levels were made in response to people’s assessed needs. Staff had worked at the home for some time and where agency staff were used, regular agency staff were employed. Staff new to the home had their background checked before commencing work at the home to ensure it was safe for them to work there. Accidents and incidents were reviewed and analysed and learning shared with staff so that people’s experience of care was adjusted and the chances of accidents and incidents would be reduced. Staff understood the importance of minimising the risk of the spread of infection.

Staff received training and guidance in response to people’s individual needs. Where training was needed to care and support specific medical conditions, staff received the training needed. People liked and valued the care staff supporting them. People knew they could receive the support they needed from staff that understood their individual needs. People were treated with dignity and respect by staff that supported them to remain as independent as possible. People and their families were supported to incorporate the arrangements they preferred in end of life care planning.

People expressed their wishes about their care and this was recorded in care plans that staff could refer to. People and their families were involved in updating their care plans through discussions with staff and meetings. People were treated with dignity and respect by staff who could empathise and understand their needs. People and their families felt able and comfortable speaking with staff about any concerns they had and understood the process for complaining if they needed to.

The registered manager worked closely with the registered provider and staff to involve people and their families in their care and the running of the service. People’s care was reviewed and updated to reflect people’s changing care needs and wishes. Staff working at the home felt assured they could seek advice and guidance from the registered manager as well as discuss issues that were important to them. The registered manager worked with other stakeholders in the area to share best practice and develop ideas of improving people’s experience of care. They were involved in a number of working groups and a manager’s forum.