CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Box Tree Cottage Residential Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about most infection-control measures, including PPE, testing, cleaning and managing outbreaks. They were only somewhat assured about safe admissions because the home was not checking people's temperatures twice a day in line with government guidance.
- 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, April 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found mostly good infection-control measures, but the home was not following guidance on twice-daily temperature checks.
Inspectors visited on 2 March 2021. This was an announced, targeted inspection focused on infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
They found good arrangements for visitors, PPE, testing, cleaning and contact with families. Staff had been trained to use PPE safely, and the home had enough PPE and cleaning supplies.
Inspectors were only somewhat assured that people were admitted safely. The home was not following government guidance to check people's temperatures twice a day. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give a full quality rating.
PPE and staff training
The home had enough PPE and staff had training in how to use it safely.
“The home had an ample supply of PPE. All staff had received training in the correct use of PPE, and how to take it off and put it on safely.” from the report
Testing and infection control
People and staff were tested regularly, with immediate testing when someone had symptoms. Cleaning of frequently touched surfaces had also increased.
“Testing was carried out for both people living in the home and staff on a regular basis.” from the report
Family contact and activities
People were supported to keep in touch with family and friends by video call and to take part in activities they enjoyed.
“People were supported to have regular contact with their families and friends via video calling.” from the report
Visitor precautions
Visitors were tested, asked to wash their hands and given PPE when they arrived.
“On arrival at the home visitors were asked to complete a test for COVID-19.They were also were required to wash their hands and were given personal protective equipment (PPE) to put on.” from the report
Temperature checks on admission
needs fixingThe home was not following government guidance to check people's temperatures twice a day to help identify early signs of infection. Inspectors were only somewhat assured that people were being admitted safely.
“The registered manager stated that they were not following the government guidance and assessing people's temperatures twice a day to help identify early signs of infection.” from the report
- 01Do you now check people's temperatures twice a day, and when was this change made?
- 02How do you assess people safely when they are admitted to the home?
- 03How often are residents and staff tested for COVID-19 now?
- 04How do you manage contact with families and activities if infection risks arise?
- 05How do you make sure staff continue to use PPE and cleaning products correctly?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control measures only, so the service was inspected but not rated across the other four questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 April 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.
What inspectors found, January 2020
Box Tree Cottage Residential Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care across all five areas.
This was a planned, unannounced inspection on 3 and 9 January 2020. One inspector spoke with three residents and three staff members, including the registered manager. Records about care, incidents, medicines and service quality were also reviewed.
Inspectors found that residents were happy and felt safe. Staff were trained, understood people's needs and there were enough staff. Medicines records were accurate, people were supported with food and drinks, and infection control practices were followed.
Care was described as kind, respectful and personalised. Residents were supported to make choices, stay independent, keep relationships and take part in activities. The home was also found to be well managed, with regular feedback from residents and action taken when needed.
The overall rating was Good, with Good ratings for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The previous inspection, published in July 2017, also rated the service Good.
People felt safe
Residents said they felt safe and staff knew how to reduce risks. The provider also completed recruitment checks before new staff started.
“People felt safe living at the home because staff knew what they were doing, they had been trained, and cared for people in the way people wanted.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff understood residents as individuals and respected their privacy, dignity and choices.
“Staff fully respected and promoted people's privacy, dignity and independence.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans contained detailed information about people's needs and preferences. They were reviewed regularly to reflect people's health and wellbeing.
“People had care plans in place, which were personalised and written in detail.” from the report
Good management
The management team was described as approachable and committed to person-centred care. Residents could give regular feedback through daily meetings.
“People had been given the opportunity to provide regular feedback.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you adapt the care plan to meet my relative's mental health needs and personal preferences?
- 02How do you involve residents and their families in reviewing care plans?
- 03How do you support residents to stay independent and take part in activities outside the home?
- 04How do you manage medicines and check that records remain accurate?
- 05How would you respond if my relative or our family wanted to make a complaint?
This inspection looked at the care provided and the home itself across all five CQC questions; all five ratings remained Good from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 25 January 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 Box Tree Cottage Residential Home
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Box Tree Cottage Residential Home →
- January 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Box Tree Cottage Residential Home →
- July 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2013
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 5 August 2013.
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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17 live-in carers within about an hour of Cambridgeshire
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 £1,020 to £1,200 a week. 14 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
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.