CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Askham Court
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home used PPE safely, supported social distancing, provided testing and had arrangements to prevent or manage infection outbreaks.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, May 2021
Askham Court was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection prevention and control arrangements.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 18 March 2021. It looked at how the home prevented and controlled COVID-19 infection. The home was inspected but not rated overall.
Inspectors found that visitors booked in advance, had temperature checks and rapid tests, and followed infection control procedures. Staff used personal protective equipment safely, followed social distancing measures and took part in regular testing.
The home had infection control training, risk assessments, cleaning schedules and an outbreak management plan. Inspectors said the home was clean and free from clutter.
Visitor safety
Visitors had to book in advance and follow infection control procedures, including temperature checks and rapid COVID-19 testing.
“All visitors were required to book their visits in advance and follow the providers infection control procedures.” from the report
Staff infection control
Staff received training in hand washing, infection control and the correct use and disposal of PPE. Their practice was checked through competency assessments.
“All staff received training in infection control, good hand washing technique and the correct use and disposal of PPE.” from the report
Preparedness for outbreaks
The home had an outbreak management plan, regular updates about COVID-19 and an infection control lead.
“The provider had an outbreak management plan in place and ensured regular sharing of the most up to date information about COVID-19.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean and uncluttered, with schedules for sanitising frequently touched areas.
“The service looked clean and free from clutter. Appropriate cleaning products were used.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you now manage visitor booking, temperature checks and COVID-19 testing?
- 02How are staff trained and checked on the safe use and disposal of PPE?
- 03How would you manage an infection outbreak, and how would families be kept informed?
- 04How often are frequently touched areas cleaned and checked?
- 05How do you use zoning and social distancing when people are living in the home?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control under the Safe question; the service was inspected but not rated overall, and other areas of care were not assessed in this report. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 May 2021 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, April 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with all five areas rated Good.
Inspectors visited over two days in February 2019. They observed care, spoke with people, relatives, staff and a healthcare professional, and checked care records, medicines, incidents and management records.
The home supported 11 people with complex physical and mental health needs, mainly linked to acquired brain injury. Inspectors found suitable staffing, safe medicines practice, detailed care plans, effective health support and kind, respectful staff.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was a planned inspection, and the home remained Good, the same as at the previous inspection published in July 2016.
Safe care and medicines
Risks were assessed and monitored, staffing was considered suitable, and medicines were safely stored, administered and reviewed.
“Medicines were safely managed, stored and administered by staff competent to do so.” from the report
Skilled support
Staff received training and support, and inspectors found they understood how to meet complex needs and work with other professionals.
“The staff work very hard and are exceptionally good with complex patients including those with low awareness, or tracheostomies or spinal injuries.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
People were treated with compassion and dignity. Staff knew people's preferences and encouraged independence and choice.
“We observed that people were treated with kindness.” from the report
Personalised rehabilitation
Care plans described what people could do and how staff should help. The home supported rehabilitation and activities linked to people's interests and goals.
“People were supported to rehabilitate to their optimal ability.” from the report
Open management
People, relatives and staff were invited to give feedback. Audits and learning from incidents and complaints were used to improve the service.
“Information from analysis of incidents and accidents, feedback from people and their relatives and complaints were used to continually improve the service being offered.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What rehabilitation and reablement goals would you set for my relative, and how would progress be measured?
- 02How would staffing levels change if my relative's needs increased?
- 03What training and experience do staff have in supporting my relative's specific physical and mental health needs?
- 04How would you involve my relative and our family in reviewing the care plan and setting new goals?
- 05What support could you provide if my relative unexpectedly needed end-of-life care?
This was a planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, with the home and the care provided both assessed; all ratings remained Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 April 2019 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Askham Court
4 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- May 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- April 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2016Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2015Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvement
- July 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 6 May 2011.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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17 live-in carers within about an hour of Cambridgeshire
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £1,020 to £1,200 a week. 14 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.