CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Atholl House Nursing Home
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
What inspectors found, April 2023
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found people were supported to access healthcare when needed, and the previous overall rating remained Good.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 20 December 2022. One inspector checked a specific concern about whether people were supported to get medical attention when needed.
The inspector spoke with the registered manager, reviewed information from other organisations and looked at six people's care records and medicines records. Staff understood when to raise health concerns with healthcare professionals, and made referrals when people's needs changed.
Instructions from healthcare professionals were recorded in care plans and shared with staff. This targeted visit did not assess the whole service, so it was marked inspected but not rated. The previous overall rating of Good remained in place.
Access to healthcare
People were supported to get healthcare when required. Staff made referrals when people's needs changed or they unexpectedly lost weight.
“People were supported to access healthcare services when required.” from the report
Recognising health concerns
Staff understood when they needed to contact a healthcare professional, including when someone was unwell or could not use prescribed equipment safely.
“Staff understood when to escalate any concerns with people's health to a healthcare professional.” from the report
Sharing medical instructions
Instructions from healthcare professionals were recorded in care plans and communicated to staff through several systems and meetings.
“Instructions from medical professionals were recorded in people's care plans and communicated to staff through handovers, meetings and were detailed using the electronic recording system.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do staff identify when a person's health has changed and decide when to contact a healthcare professional?
- 02How are referrals to GPs, speech and language therapists and dietitians followed up?
- 03How do you make sure medical professionals' instructions are updated in care plans and shared with all relevant staff?
- 04When will the next comprehensive inspection take place, so the other areas of the service can be assessed?
This was a targeted inspection of part of Effective, focused on access to healthcare; the whole Effective question and the other ratings were not reviewed and the previous overall rating of Good remained in place. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 April 2023 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, February 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good COVID-19 infection control and safe visiting arrangements.
This was a planned, announced inspection on 3 February 2022. The CQC gave the home one day's notice.
It was a targeted inspection during the CQC's response to COVID-19 outbreaks. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control, and asked about staffing pressures.
Inspectors found a separate unit for people who tested positive for COVID-19. It had its own staff team and could be accessed without going through the rest of the home.
The home was clean, had enough protective equipment, followed testing arrangements and used visiting arrangements based on current government guidance. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Separate COVID-19 unit
The home had a self-contained unit for people who tested positive for COVID-19. It had its own staff team and reduced the risk of infection spreading to other people.
“The unit was self-contained and could be accessed independently from the rest of the home to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19.” from the report
Good infection control
Inspectors found that infection control systems were in place and understood by staff. The home was clean and touch points and equipment were wiped regularly.
“Effective infection control systems were in place and these were understood and followed by staff.” from the report
Protective equipment and testing
Hand sanitiser and protective equipment were available, with sufficient supplies. People, staff and essential care givers took part in the home's COVID-19 testing arrangements.
“Hand sanitiser and personal protective equipment (PPE) was readily available in the home and there were sufficient supplies of PPE.” from the report
Visiting arrangements
The home was following current government guidance for routine visits and essential care givers, including when there was an outbreak.
“The provider was following current government guidance when facilitating visits for people.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you managing staffing pressures now, and what effect do they have on people's care?
- 02Is the separate COVID-19 unit still available, and does it still have its own staff team?
- 03What infection control, testing and protective equipment arrangements are currently in place?
- 04What are the current visiting arrangements, including during an outbreak?
- 05How do you check that staff and visiting professionals meet any current vaccination or exemption requirements?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, with questions about staffing pressures; the other areas of care were not assessed and the service was not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 February 2022 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 Atholl House Nursing Home
5 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- April 2023Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingEffective: Inspected but not rated
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2021GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2021Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- July 2019Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2018Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- December 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 29 December 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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