CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Barnston Court Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was managing the COVID-19 outbreak safely. They found effective use of testing, personal protective equipment, cleaning and infection control procedures.
- 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, March 2022
Barnston Court Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found the COVID-19 outbreak was being safely managed.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 21 January 2022. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control during a COVID-19 outbreak, and asked about staffing pressures.
Inspectors found that the outbreak was being managed safely. They were assured about testing, personal protective equipment, cleaning, visiting arrangements, admissions and the use of government guidance.
The inspection was not a full assessment of the home. The overall rating and the Safe rating were both recorded as “Inspected but not rated”.
Managing the outbreak
The home used testing, records and infection control systems to help manage the COVID-19 outbreak and prevent infections spreading.
“This outbreak was being safely managed, and people were receiving appropriate care and support in line with government guidance.” from the report
Kind staff interactions
Inspectors observed kind and caring interactions between staff and people living at the home. Staff also said they felt supported during the outbreak.
“We observed kind and caring interactions between people at the home and staff.” from the report
Training and cleanliness
Staff had received training and support, used personal protective equipment effectively, and the home was clean.
“Staff had received appropriate training and support; they made effective use of PPE and other infection prevention and control practises.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visits arranged now, and what would happen if there were another infection outbreak?
- 02What staffing pressures are there currently, and how would they affect the care provided?
- 03How do you make sure staff and visitors follow testing and personal protective equipment requirements?
- 04How will people stay in contact with their families if visiting has to be limited?
- 05How do you check that cleaning, hygiene and infection control measures remain effective?
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 not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 March 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, October 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found caring, personalised support and safe care, but improvements were needed in staff work-history records and training.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 23 August and 4 September 2019. One inspector spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and health and social care professionals. They also reviewed care plans, daily records, medicines records, staff files and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practice, clean surroundings and good monitoring of accidents and incidents. People and relatives described staff as kind, respectful and responsive.
The home provided personalised care and supported people to stay independent, maintain relationships and take part in activities. Inspectors made two recommendations. These concerned recording new staff members' work history and providing training to help staff support people during stressful situations.
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives consistently praised the care. Staff supported people respectfully and helped them remain as independent as possible.
“People without exception told us that staff at the home were very caring.” from the report
Personalised support
Care planning helped people reconnect with others, return to activities they enjoyed and regain some independence.
“We saw that person-centred care planning had helped people to identify and achieve positive outcomes.” from the report
Activities and relationships
People took part in activities inside the home and in the community. Staff also helped people maintain important family and social relationships.
“People were supported to engage in activities that were meaningful to them both inside the home and in their community.” from the report
Positive leadership
Inspectors found a clear focus on person-centred care and a culture of ongoing improvement. The provider's quality team visited twice a month.
“The registered manager had created a positive culture at the home with a clear person-centred focus that had benefitted people.” from the report
Safe medicines and staffing
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs and found that medicines were stored, given and checked safely.
“Medication was administered and stored safely by suitability qualified and trained staff.” from the report
Staff work histories
needs fixingPre-employment checks were carried out, but staff work histories were not always explored fully. Inspectors recommended putting a system in place to record this information.
“However, staff work history had not always been robustly explored.” from the report
Training for stressful situations
needs fixingStaff had regular training, but had not received training on how to de-escalate and support people during stressful situations. Inspectors recommended that this training should be provided.
“However, training in how to deescalate and support people during stressful situations had not been provided.” from the report
Some refurbishment needed
minorSome areas of the building needed refurbishment. The report says improvements had started and an ongoing refurbishment programme was in place.
“Some areas of the home's environment were in need of refurbishment.” from the report
- 01What system is now used to record and check new staff members' full work history?
- 02What training do staff receive to de-escalate and support people during stressful situations?
- 03Which parts of the building have been refurbished since the inspection, and what work is still planned?
- 04How quickly are call bells answered, and how does the home use the new call bell system to monitor this?
- 05How are people's personal goals, activities and relationships recorded and reviewed in their care plans?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC questions; the previous rating, published in February 2017, was also Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 October 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 Barnston Court Care Home
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- October 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 30 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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40 live-in carers within about an hour of Wirral
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 £1,230 a week. 37 can care for a couple. 8 years' experience on average.
“It was clear that she genuinely cared and her warm approach really helped put our minds at ease.”
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during 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.