Winchester House

This inspection report for Winchester House by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) offers an overview of the care provided, focusing on key areas of service delivery. The report details findings related to the safety of residents, the effectiveness of care, the caring approach of staff, the responsiveness of the service to individual needs, and the overall leadership and management of the home. It highlights areas where improvements have been made and identifies specific points for further development to ensure the best possible outcomes for all residents.

Regarding safety, inspectors found that residents felt secure and were protected from harm. The home now has appropriate staffing levels and robust systems for investigating safeguarding incidents, with a significant reduction in such alerts since the previous inspection. Medicine administration has improved, with trained staff and dedicated time to ensure accuracy, and storage is managed securely. Risk assessments are detailed and regularly reviewed, with clear guidance for staff on managing potential risks, and infection control measures are in place to protect residents and visitors.

In terms of how effective the care is, Winchester House has made improvements in end-of-life care, ensuring residents are treated with dignity and their wishes are documented. However, the feedback on activities and engagement was mixed; while some residents enjoyed hobbies, others experienced a lack of stimulation, particularly those who are bedbound. Care plans are comprehensive, but their handwritten format and extensive content could be challenging for new staff to navigate, with efforts underway to implement an electronic system to improve readability and accessibility.

The caring aspect of the service is reflected in residents' feedback, with many feeling staff are professional and responsive to their needs. Staff demonstrate good knowledge of residents' likes and dislikes, and there's evidence of relatives being involved in developing care plans. Communication needs are noted, and guidance is provided for staff, although the accessibility of care plans remains a point for improvement.

On responsiveness, the service has made progress in areas like end-of-life care planning. However, the variety and consistency of activities need attention, especially for residents who are less mobile. While feedback from relatives is positive, a more consistent approach to activities and engagement across all units is needed. The home is also working on improving the readability and accessibility of care plans.

Finally, concerning how well-led the service is, there have been significant improvements in quality assurance checks and management implementation of changes. The registered manager fosters an open-door culture and actively works with external safeguarding teams. The service has addressed previous regulatory breaches and has a clear structure for staff supervision and reporting, although communication regarding staffing levels at times remains a point for residents to raise.