CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Aylesham Court Care Home
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found the home clean and well maintained, with suitable protective clothing and arrangements for infection prevention, testing, visiting and admissions. They also found measures to manage COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- 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?
- Outstanding
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, January 2022
Aylesham Court Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and measures to manage staffing pressures.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 12 January 2022. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control, and asked about staffing pressures linked to COVID-19.
They found the premises clean, fresh and well maintained. Staff used suitable protective clothing, and inspectors were assured that visiting, testing, admissions, social distancing and infection outbreaks were being managed safely.
The home had measures to reduce the effects of COVID-19-related staffing pressures. Visitors could see relatives during an outbreak when it was safe to do so, based on individual risk assessments. Staff well-being was supported through flexible working, extra benefits and other support.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the inspection checked specific areas rather than giving an overall judgement on the quality of care.
Infection control
The home was clean and well maintained. Inspectors were assured that staff used protective clothing safely and that infection risks were being managed.
“The premises were clean, fresh, and well-maintained.” from the report
Safe family visits
Visitors could see relatives during an outbreak where this was appropriate. The home assessed the risks and considered each person's circumstances.
“Risks were assessed to ensure this was done safely, taking into account people's individual circumstances.” from the report
Staff support
The home used flexible working, extra benefits, a well-being phone line and staff input into rotas to support staff and reduce stress.
“These initiatives had helped to retain staff and reduce stress.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do COVID-19-related staffing pressures affect the care and routines of my relative?
- 02How would you arrange visits for my relative during an infection outbreak?
- 03How do you assess whether a visit is safe for each person?
- 04How often are staff and residents tested, and what happens if there is an infection outbreak?
- 05How do you make sure staff and visiting professionals meet the COVID-19 vaccination requirements?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated overall. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 January 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.
What inspectors found, September 2019
Aylesham Court Care Home rated Outstanding; inspectors found highly personalised care and exceptional responsiveness and leadership, with some medicines and call-bell issues.
Inspectors visited without notice on 13 and 14 August 2019. They spoke with people living in the home, visitors, managers and staff. They observed care and checked care plans, medicines records, training, recruitment and quality checks.
The home was rated Outstanding overall. Safe, effective and caring were rated Good. Responsive and well-led were rated Outstanding. People were described as safe, treated kindly and supported to make choices about their care and daily lives.
Inspectors found very personalised activities and support. Examples included helping someone attend a family wedding by video link, supporting cultural food choices, and providing end of life care with hospice staff.
There were two areas needing attention. A nurse did not follow hand hygiene procedures during a medicines round, creating a possible infection risk. Two people said call bells were sometimes turned off before staff returned.
Personalised care
Care plans were detailed and focused on each person's history, preferences, beliefs and individual needs. People were involved in planning their care.
“People's plans of care were centred on them as a person.” from the report
Activities and relationships
The home supported people to continue interests and relationships in creative ways. Activities included a choir, line dancing, cooking, church services and trips.
“The service was creative and innovative in supporting people to actively access interests and activities that were important to them.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
People and relatives reported positive relationships with staff. Inspectors saw people being treated with kindness, dignity and respect.
“People using the service and their relatives experienced positive caring relationships with the staff team.” from the report
Strong leadership and improvement
The management team had clear values and used audits, meetings and feedback to make changes. Staff felt supported and able to speak openly.
“Comprehensive systems were in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service.” from the report
End of life support
The home worked with hospice nurses to train staff and plan symptom management. People's wishes were discussed and families could stay with relatives at the end of life.
“People experienced a comfortable and dignified death.” from the report
Medicines hygiene
needs fixingDuring one medicines round, the nurse did not wash their hands first and touched medicines without gloves. Inspectors said this created a possible infection risk. The manager arranged further training and a competency check after the visit.
“This meant people were at risk of possible infection.” from the report
Call-bell response
needs fixingTwo people said staff sometimes turned off their call bells while busy and did not return promptly. Managers introduced pagers so they could check the system and said they would monitor it regularly.
“Then they don't come back or it's 10 or 15 minutes later.” from the report
- 01How do you now check that staff follow hand-washing and glove procedures during medicines rounds?
- 02How quickly are call bells answered, and how do managers check that they are not turned off without a timely response?
- 03What activities are available for a resident's specific interests, culture, faith and communication needs?
- 04How are families involved in care planning and decisions about end of life care?
- 05What changes have been made since the inspection in August 2019, and what were the results of those checks?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, including both the premises and the care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 September 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 Aylesham Court Care Home
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- January 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- September 2019Outstandingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- January 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2015GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Leicestershire
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 £980 to £1,260 a week. 82 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“If you bump into her in the night on her way to the bathroom she will still inquire how you are and if everything is alright.”
“Together Earther and I supported her to die at home with great dignity and compassion and him to continue with life.”
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.