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CQC report explained · a nursing home

What the CQC found at Benslow Nursing Home

Goodpublished 29 July 2026, 2 months ago

Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.

The latest report, explained

What inspectors found, March 2022

Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control and staffing arrangements during a COVID-19 outbreak.

The CQC made an unannounced, targeted inspection on 24 February 2022. It focused on infection prevention and control during a COVID-19 outbreak, and on whether staff pressures were affecting people.

Inspectors found the home was clean and staff understood how to reduce infection risks. They saw effective use of testing, personal protective equipment and isolation arrangements. Visiting was allowed with safety controls, and people were supported to keep in touch with family.

The home had plans for staff absence linked to COVID-19. Staff said they felt supported and had enough information. Inspectors said there had been no impact on people from staffing pressures.

The service was inspected but not rated. This means the inspection was a focused check rather than a full assessment of the home’s overall quality.

What inspectors praised
  • Infection control

    The home was clean, cleaning was continuing during the visit, and staff understood how to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

    “The home was clean and there was cleaning ongoing during our visit.” from the report
  • Testing and protective equipment

    People, staff and visitors were subject to testing and other infection controls. Staff had training in infection control and using protective equipment.

    “Staff had received training on donning and doffing PPE, infection control and COVID-19.” from the report
  • Family contact

    Visiting was not restricted, although safety controls were used. People were also supported to have video calls.

    “People were also supported to have video calls.” from the report
  • Staffing plans

    The provider had a plan for staff absence linked to COVID-19, and inspectors found no impact on people from staffing pressures.

    “There had been no impact on people in relation to staffing.” from the report
What inspectors were concerned about

Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.

Questions to ask them, based on this report
  1. 01How do you currently support activities and reduce social isolation when people have to stay in their rooms?
  2. 02What testing, personal protective equipment and visitor controls are currently used?
  3. 03How would you maintain people’s care if several staff were absent because of COVID-19?
  4. 04How do you currently help residents keep in touch with family and friends during an outbreak?
  5. 05How do you make sure staff and visiting professionals meet the vaccination or exemption requirements described in the report?

This was an unannounced 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 5 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.

An earlier report, explained

What inspectors found, February 2021

Inspected but not rated; inspectors found several good COVID-19 controls but some infection risks needed attention.

This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 26 January 2021. It looked only at infection prevention and control during the coronavirus outbreak.

Inspectors found good practice in areas such as COVID-19 policies, risk assessments, testing, staff training and support for people isolating in their rooms.

However, inspectors were only somewhat assured about some controls. A visitor's temperature was not checked, one staff member wore a mask below their nose, and some bedroom doors were open for people who had COVID-19.

The service was inspected but not rated. This report does not give an overall quality rating or ratings for the other four areas.

What inspectors praised
  • COVID-19 planning

    The provider had policies, procedures and risk assessments for managing the service during the pandemic.

    “The provider had developed policies, procedures and risks assessments for managing the service in relation to COVID-19.” from the report
  • Staff training and support

    Staff had training in PPE, infection control and COVID-19, and said they felt supported and had enough information to work safely.

    “Staff had received training on donning and doffing personal protective equipment (PPE), infection control and COVID-19.” from the report
  • Risk assessments

    People and staff in higher-risk groups had risk assessments completed.

    “People and staff who were in the higher risk groups had risk assessments completed.” from the report
  • Support during isolation

    Staff spent more time with people during care tasks and provided activities for people isolating in their rooms.

    “Staff told us that people were spending more time with people when supporting them with care tasks and they ensured they had something to occupy them while spending time isolating in their rooms.” from the report
What inspectors were concerned about
  • Visitor temperature checks

    needs fixing

    The home did not check inspectors' temperature when they arrived. The person in charge accepted this should have happened and said it was normally done.

    “However, they did not take our temperature when we arrived at the service.” from the report
  • PPE use

    needs fixing

    One staff member was seen twice wearing their mask below their nose. This was dealt with immediately when inspectors raised it.

    “However, we noted that one staff member had their mask under their nose when observed twice.” from the report
  • Open bedroom doors

    needs fixing

    Bedroom doors were open for people who had tested positive for COVID-19. Inspectors said this increased the risk of infection spreading, and the provider reviewed the approach afterwards.

    “However, bedroom doors of those positive of COVID-19 were open which increased the risk of transmission.” from the report
Questions to ask them, based on this report
  1. 01How do you now make sure every visitor's temperature is checked when they arrive?
  2. 02How do you check that all staff wear PPE correctly throughout their shifts?
  3. 03What changes were made after inspectors raised the concern about open bedroom doors for people who had COVID-19?
  4. 04How do you support people who are isolating in their rooms, including providing activities and regular contact?
  5. 05What are the home's current arrangements for COVID-19 testing for residents and staff?

This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 outbreak; the service was inspected but not rated and the other care areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 February 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.

The story over the years

Every inspection of Benslow Nursing Home

5 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.

  1. March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent rating
    Safe: Inspected but not rated

    Read what inspectors found at Benslow Nursing Home →

  2. February 2021Inspected but not rated
    Safe: Inspected but not rated

    Read what inspectors found at Benslow Nursing Home →

  3. June 2019Goodstayed Good
    Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  4. October 2016Goodup from Requires improvement
    Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  5. April 2016Requires improvementstayed Requires improvement
    Safe: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  6. December 2015Requires improvementdown from Good
    Safe: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  7. June 2015Good
    Safe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  8. September 2013

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  9. January 2013

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  10. August 2011

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  11. December 2010

    Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 14 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.

Next steps

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