Enter and view: Victoria House, Warrington

Healthwatch Warrington conducted a visit to Victoria House in light of a Care Quality Commission (CQC) report published in May 2017, gave the home an overall ‘requires improvement rating’ and concerns raised by local social services and commissioners. Victoria House is owned by W H Investments Ltd and provides residential care and support for up to 30 older people (including residents with Dementia needs). During visits 26 residents at the home.

Recommendations:

• Review Infection Control Producers: concerns relating to infection control. The home should review current policies and practices, in line with guidance and support from regulators and commissioners, to address these issues.

• Laundry Arrangements: the home’s management should review the shortfalls in current laundry arrangements and consider hiring an additional laundry assistant to address the problematic issues highlighted.

• Consider Replacing Carpets: replacing the carpets in the home with an easy clean alternative (such as a dementia friendly, single-pattern laminate) could help to improve infection control.

• Increase Staff Cover: the need to recruit more staff (especially during the night shift and to help residents when visiting the toilet) should be a priority at the home.

• Improve Administration and Leadership: Again, the home’s new management should continue to work with senior staff to boost morale, improve staff training and review record handling at the home (for example, when patients are sent to hospital).

• Boost Activities on Offer at the Home: review the activities available to residents while the Activities Coordinator is absent (although this largely relates to staff capacity).

• Relatives and Carers Meetings: Regular and structured carer and relative forums at the home would help staff, families and carers to engage more effectively with each other; this would also be a positive way to share ideas, challenges and solutions to help improve care within the home.