CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Ayresome Court
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was preventing infections, using PPE safely, carrying out testing and managing admissions and outbreaks. The provider also said it had measures to reduce the risks from 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?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Ayresome Court was inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong COVID-19 infection prevention arrangements.
This was a targeted inspection on 13 January 2022. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control, and asked about staffing pressures linked to COVID-19. The visit was announced four hours beforehand.
Inspectors found that visitors were checked for a negative lateral flow test, vaccination evidence and symptoms. The home was clean, tidy and well ventilated. Staff used personal protective equipment correctly, and testing and isolation arrangements were in place.
The report says the provider had measures to reduce the effect of COVID-19 staff pressures. Inspectors were assured about the main infection control arrangements, including safe admissions, visiting, testing, PPE and managing outbreaks.
The home was inspected but not rated. This was not a full inspection of all five areas of care, so the report does not provide an overall quality rating.
Visitor checks
Visitors had to provide evidence of a negative lateral flow test and vaccination, and their temperatures and symptoms were checked before entry.
“Visitors to the home were asked to produce evidence of a negative lateral flow test (LFT) and show their COVID passport as evidence of vaccination.” from the report
Clean and adapted environment
The home was clean, tidy and ventilated. Furniture, dining arrangements and screens had been arranged to reduce infection risks.
“The home was clean, tidy and well ventilated.” from the report
PPE and staff checks
Staff were trained to use PPE, and their practice was checked through observations and competency assessments. Inspectors saw staff following PPE and distancing guidance.
“Staff had been trained in the safe use of PPE and regular observations and competency assessments were done to ensure staff were following the correct procedure.” from the report
Testing and outbreak response
Testing followed government guidance. Positive results led to actions such as staff staying at home and people isolating where possible.
“Positive test results triggered appropriate action such as staff staying at home and people self-isolating in their room wherever possible.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection prevention and visiting arrangements are in place now, and how have they changed since this inspection?
- 02How do current staffing pressures affect people's care, and what cover is available when staff are absent?
- 03How are staff currently trained and checked to make sure they use PPE safely?
- 04What happens when a new person is admitted, including how long they may need to isolate?
- 05How would the home manage a new infection outbreak, including testing, isolation and visiting?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it was not a full inspection and the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 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.
What inspectors found, February 2020
Rated Good overall; inspectors found exceptionally responsive, personalised care, with all five areas rated Good or Outstanding.
This was an unannounced planned re-inspection on 23 January 2020. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and a visiting health professional. They observed care and reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff files and management records.
The home was rated Good for safety, effectiveness, caring and leadership. It was rated Outstanding for responsiveness. Inspectors found that people were treated kindly, involved in decisions and supported to maintain their independence, interests and relationships.
The previous rating, published in March 2017, was Requires Improvement. A further inspection in March 2018 was withdrawn because of an issue with some information gathered. This inspection was carried out as a planned re-inspection.
Personalised support
Staff took time to understand people's histories, preferences and goals. Care plans included detailed information about how each person wished to be supported.
“The service provided an exceptionally individualised and responsive care for people.” from the report
End-of-life care
The home worked with other organisations to respect people's end-of-life wishes. It provided information for families, a family room and a memorial garden.
“The service was committed to providing exceptional person-centred end of life care.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors found a person-centred culture in which staff listened to people, respected their choices and supported their privacy and dignity.
“People were treated with kindness; they were actively listened to and their choices respected.” from the report
Activities and community links
People could take part in a wide range of activities linked to their interests, including gardening, music, clubs and visits into the community.
“The service provided an incredible range of social activities for people that were tailored to their own preferences and interests.” from the report
Safe medicines
Inspectors found safe systems for ordering, storing, checking and disposing of medicines. Staff who gave medicines had training and regular competency checks.
“Records were fully completed and showed people received their medicines as prescribed.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you support my relative's individual preferences, routines, interests and future goals?
- 02How would you involve my relative and our family in planning and reviewing their care?
- 03What end-of-life support could you provide, and how would you record and respect my relative's wishes?
- 04Which activities and community visits would be suitable for my relative?
- 05How would you respond if my relative's health or care needs changed?
This was an unannounced planned re-inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the premises and care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 February 2020 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 Ayresome Court
5 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- February 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- April 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2017Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2015Goodstayed GoodEffective: Requires improvement
- March 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 November 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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
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45 live-in carers within about an hour of Stockton-on-Tees
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 £1,190 a week. 40 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“I found Alison to be kind , caring helpful concencious... Alison has a heart of gold”
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in the night.”
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.