CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Askham House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about most infection-control arrangements, including testing, cleaning, safe admissions and protective equipment. They were only somewhat assured about visitor checks because these were not observed during the visit.
- 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, January 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found mostly good infection-control practice, but visitor health checks were not observed.
This was an unannounced targeted inspection on 9 December 2020. It looked only at infection prevention and control because of coronavirus outbreaks in care homes.
Inspectors were assured about shielding, social distancing, safe admissions, testing, cleaning, the home's layout, its infection-control policy and the use of personal protective equipment. Staff had been trained to put on and remove this equipment safely.
Inspectors were only somewhat assured about preventing visitors from spreading infection. The home had a policy for taking visitors' temperatures and asking about their health, but inspectors did not see this happen during the visit. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give a quality rating.
Protective equipment
Staff used full personal protective equipment and had training on how to use it safely.
“Staff wore full personal protective equipment (PPE), and had received training on how to wear and remove it safely.” from the report
Testing
The home carried out testing for both people living there and staff.
“Whole home testing was carried out for both people and staff.” from the report
Cleaning and visiting arrangements
Cleaning had increased, including of frequently touched surfaces. An outdoor visiting area was available, although only essential visitors were being accepted at the time.
“Cleaning of the home, including frequently touched surfaces, had increased to reduce the risk of transmission of infection.” from the report
Visitor checks were not observed
needs fixingThe home said it had a policy for taking visitors' temperatures and asking about their health, but inspectors did not see these checks during the visit.
“the inspector did not experience this during their visit.” from the report
- 01How do you now carry out visitor temperature checks and health questions in practice?
- 02Are visitors still limited to essential visits, and how is the outdoor visiting area used?
- 03What extra precautions were introduced after the inspection for people who test positive for COVID-19?
- 04How often are staff and people living in the home tested?
- 05How do you check that staff are using and removing PPE safely?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control only, and the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 January 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, August 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with all five areas improved from Requires Improvement.
Two inspectors made an unannounced visit on 20 June 2019. They spoke with seven people and six staff, reviewed two care records and medication records, and checked management, training and quality records.
The inspectors found that people were safe and received kind, personalised care. Staff knew people well, respected their choices and supported their independence. Medicines, staffing, risk management and infection control were found to be managed safely.
People received suitable food, healthcare, activities and support with communication. The home had care plans that reflected people's needs and preferences. People and relatives were able to give feedback and raise complaints.
The overall rating was Good, with Good ratings for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. All five areas had improved from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection, published on 25 June 2018.
Kind and respectful staff
People and relatives described staff positively. Inspectors saw staff showing patience, dignity and respect.
“Staff were kind, caring and motivated. People, their relatives and external professionals were complimentary about the care provided.” from the report
Safe medicines and risk management
The home had clear risk assessments and safe systems for ordering, giving and storing medicines. Staff training and checks were in place.
“Staff kept accurate records of all medicines ordered, given and disposed of. Medicines storage was appropriate.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans were detailed and tailored to each person. People and their relatives were involved in reviewing care where appropriate.
“People received personalised individual care and support that was very responsive to their care and support needs.” from the report
Choice and communication
People were offered choices about daily routines, food and activities. Information was available in formats such as large print and pictures.
“Information for people was available in different formats such as large print and pictorial prompts.” from the report
Learning and improvement
The management team used audits, incidents and complaints to identify improvements. Action plans were checked when completed.
“Audits included action plans for improvements which had been signed off when completed.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you keep care plans up to date and make sure they still reflect each person's wishes?
- 02How do you check that staff remain competent to give medicines, including medicines prescribed when needed?
- 03What activities and community visits are available for someone with my relative's interests and abilities?
- 04How would you support my relative to make decisions if they could not make a particular decision themselves?
- 05How can relatives give feedback or make a complaint, and how would we be told what action was taken?
This was an unannounced inspection covering the overall service and all five CQC questions, including care, records and management systems. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 August 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 House
3 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- January 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- August 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2018Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2016Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 25 November 2010.
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.