Hutton Village Care Home

This report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) provides an overview of Hutton Village Care Home, focusing specifically on infection prevention and control measures in place during their inspection on 26 August 2020. The inspection was part of a wider CQC review of care homes during the pandemic, aiming to identify good practices. The report details how the home was managing safety in light of COVID-19, including staffing, PPE, and protocols for residents and visitors. It assures families that the home was actively working to protect residents and staff from infection.

Regarding how safe the care is, Hutton Village Care Home demonstrated robust measures to prevent the spread of infection. This included ensuring staff had the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) and training, alongside clear protocols for cleaning and hygiene. The home also implemented safe procedures for admitting new residents, managing visits from family members, and ensuring compliance with shielding and social distancing guidelines.

On the effectiveness of the care provided, the inspection found that the home was successfully admitting new residents safely and ensuring effective use of PPE by staff. They were also actively accessing testing for both residents and staff, which contributes to the overall effectiveness of their infection control strategy.

In terms of how caring the service is, staff were noted to be dedicated to supporting residents' well-being throughout the pandemic. This included arranging video calls with relatives and ensuring morale remained high through consistent engagement and activities, such as individual quizzes and personal care services.

Concerning how responsive the service is to residents' needs, the home had established clear protocols for managing visits from family members, allowing these to happen safely. They also adapted their services to facilitate communication with loved ones, such as through video calls, and maintained engagement through various activities.

Looking at how well-led the service is, the registered manager was recognised for their commitment to the team and their efforts in maintaining safe care during the pandemic. The home had implemented comprehensive risk assessments and policies, ensuring that infection control practices were up-to-date and effectively communicated to all staff.