CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Cairn Home
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
What inspectors found, May 2021
Cairn Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and visiting arrangements, but testing was not fully in line with guidance.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 5 May 2021. It looked at infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic, rather than giving a full inspection rating.
Inspectors found that the home was clean and well maintained. Staff were using protective equipment correctly, following infection control training and supporting social distancing. The home had adapted rooms and a visiting pod so relatives could see people safely.
Inspectors were assured about most infection control arrangements. However, not every staff member received regular COVID-19 tests in line with government guidance. The overall service and Safe question were both marked “Inspected but not rated”.
Safe family visits
The home adapted empty bedrooms for face-to-face visits and provided a visiting pod in the garden.
“The provider had adapted vacant bedrooms to facilitate safe face to face visits inside.” from the report
Clean premises
Inspectors found the premises clean and well maintained, with frequent touch points regularly cleaned.
“The premises were clean and well maintained. All staff regularly cleaned frequent touch points, such as handrails and light switches.” from the report
Infection control training
Staff had infection control training, their competence was checked, and inspectors saw correct practice.
“All staff had received training in infection prevention and control and their competency in this area was regularly checked.” from the report
Staff testing was incomplete
needs fixingNot every staff member received regular COVID-19 tests in line with government guidance. Inspectors signposted the registered manager to resources to improve the approach.
“Not every member of staff received regular tests for COVID-19 in line with government guidance.” from the report
- 01How do you make sure every member of staff receives regular COVID-19 testing in line with current guidance?
- 02What has changed in your testing arrangements since the inspection?
- 03How are visits currently arranged, including visits for people living with dementia or sensory impairments?
- 04How do you check that staff continue to follow infection prevention and control procedures?
- 05How do you manage infection risks when admitting a new person to the home?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic; it did not assess the other four key questions or provide a full service rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 May 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, June 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with two small record-keeping issues addressed during the visit.
This was an unannounced, planned comprehensive inspection on 2 May 2019. One inspector spoke with six people, a relative, five staff members and the manager. They observed care and checked records, staff files and management information.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People were overwhelmingly positive and said staff understood their needs, treated them with dignity and supported their choices.
The home had enough staff, suitable training, regular checks and good systems for managing risks, medicines and infection control. Managers were visible and the home was described as open, supportive, homely and well maintained.
Inspectors found two issues during the visit. One relative had signed a consent record without the legal authority to do so, and the complaints policy had incorrect external contact details. The manager said the consent issue would be addressed and corrected the complaints policy during the inspection.
Kind and respectful care
People said staff treated them well. Inspectors saw warm interactions, respect for privacy and support for people's independence.
“Our observations showed staff were warm and genuine in their interactions with people using the service.” from the report
Good understanding of needs
People's needs were assessed before care began and care plans were updated. Staff understood how to provide individual support.
“The registered manager described recent assessment processes and it was clear they developed a good picture of people's needs before devising their care packages.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff to provide care when needed. Medicines were stored, administered and checked through regular audits and competency checks.
“We carried out observations of staff undertaking medicines administration. We found it was administered well” from the report
Visible management
Managers were present and approachable. The home used regular audits, walk rounds and feedback to oversee quality and safety.
“Managers were highly visible within the service and accessible to people using the service.” from the report
Consent record
needs fixingIn one file, a relative had signed consent without having the legal authority to do so. Inspectors raised this with the manager, who said it would be addressed.
“although in one person's file a relative had signed to give "consent" despite not having the legal authority to do so.” from the report
Complaints information
minorThe complaints policy gave incorrect information about who people could contact outside the home. The manager corrected it during the inspection.
“We noted that the complaints policy did not contain the correct details about who complainants could contact to raise their complaints externally” from the report
- 01How do you now make sure consent is obtained from the right person when someone cannot make a particular decision?
- 02What are the current external contact details in your complaints policy?
- 03Who is currently organising activities, and how are activities matched to each person's interests and preferences?
- 04How often are medicines audits and staff competency checks carried out?
- 05How do managers act on feedback, incidents and changes in people's needs?
This was an unannounced, planned comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, and both the premises and care provided were looked at. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 June 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 Cairn Home
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- May 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- June 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 14 January 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.
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90 live-in carers within about an hour of Sheffield
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 £1,270 a week. 76 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Carla has been a god send with the implementation of bringing mum back home from respite care.”
“Beatrice was a talent dementia carer whose professionalism and dedication allowed mums wishes to remain in her own her come true.”
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.