CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Carlton Court Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found effective safeguarding systems, enough staff, safe medicines management, regular risk assessments and suitable infection control measures.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was carried forward.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was carried forward.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was carried forward.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found clear leadership, regular audits and action plans, good communication with families and positive working relationships with professionals.
What inspectors found, January 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe care, enough staff and strong management, with previous medicines concerns improved.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 17 and 18 November 2022. Inspectors looked at Safe and Well-led after receiving concerns about staffing, poor care and management responses. They spoke with people, relatives and staff, and reviewed care records, medicines records, recruitment files, rotas and quality checks.
Inspectors found people were safe. Risks were assessed, medicines were managed safely, staffing levels were sufficient, and the home was clean and hygienic. People and relatives said they felt safe. Inspectors found no evidence that the concerns received had put people at risk of harm.
The home was also rated Good for being well-led. Managers used audits and action plans, worked with other professionals and were described as supportive and approachable. The previous recommendation about medicines management had been acted on and improvements were found.
The overall rating stayed Good. This was not a full inspection of all five areas. The ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive were carried forward from the previous inspection.
Safe medicines
Medicines were stored securely, records were complete and inspectors found no missed doses in the records checked.
“People received their medicines safely and as prescribed.” from the report
Enough staff
Inspectors found staffing levels were sufficient to meet people's needs and keep them safe.
“There were enough staff available to ensure the safety of people.” from the report
Good oversight
Managers used regular checks and audits. Problems found through these checks were added to action plans with timescales.
“Where issues were identified, these were incorporated into the appropriate action plan and addressed within a set timeframe.” from the report
Improved medicines systems
The home had acted on the recommendation from the previous inspection about safer medicines planning, risk assessment and recording.
“At this inspection we found the provider had made improvements.” from the report
Family communication
Relatives said they could contact the home when they had concerns and received a response. The home also used calls, video calls and newsletters to keep families informed.
“We saw evidence of regular communication with people and their relatives.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you check that staffing levels remain sufficient on each shift, including at busy times?
- 02How are medicines records checked now, and what happens if a dose is refused or missed?
- 03What issues are currently on the home's action plan, and when will they be reviewed?
- 04How will you keep families informed about changes in a person's care or health?
- 05What were the previous ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive, and when will these areas next be reviewed?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive were carried forward from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 January 2023 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 2021
Infection control was inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong COVID-19 safety measures, but non-essential visits were restricted.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 17 December 2020. It checked infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic, rather than the full range of care provided.
Inspectors were assured that the home used protective equipment safely, arranged testing, followed social distancing and shielding rules, and had up-to-date infection control procedures. They also found regular cleaning, staff training and checks for signs of infection.
The home was not given an overall quality rating, and Safe was recorded as inspected but not rated. The other four areas were not assessed in this inspection.
Safe visiting processes
Visitors received information about safe visiting, symptom screening and full protective equipment.
“All visitors were screened for symptoms of COVID-19 and were provided with full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).” from the report
Staff training
Staff received regular training and updates about COVID-19, infection control and protective equipment.
“Staff had received regular in-house training and updates on COVID-19, Infection Control and the use of PPE.” from the report
Cleaning and hygiene
Inspectors found robust cleaning arrangements, with the wider staff team also helping to keep the home clean.
“Robust cleaning processes in place followed the providers Infection Prevention and Control policy and procedures.” from the report
Monitoring for infection
Staff monitored people and colleagues for possible infection so action could be taken quickly.
“All staff worked proactively together to continuously monitor and check people for any signs or symptoms for possible infection” from the report
Restricted visiting
minorNon-essential visits were restricted during the inspection because potential infection cases had recently been reported. Ask the home what visiting arrangements are now in place.
“non-essential visiting to the home was restricted due to potential cases of infection recently reported within the home.” from the report
- 01What are the current visiting arrangements, and have non-essential visits been fully restored?
- 02How are residents and staff tested for COVID-19 or other infections now?
- 03What infection control training and updates do staff currently receive?
- 04What is the latest full CQC rating for the home, including caring, effective, responsive and well-led?
- 05How would the home respond if there was another infection outbreak?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during a coronavirus outbreak response; it was not a full inspection and the service was not rated overall. This explanation was written from the published report of 30 January 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.
Every inspection of Carlton Court Care Home
5 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- August 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
- July 2017Requires improvementup from InadequateSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- February 2017Inadequatedown from GoodSafe: InadequateEffective: InadequateCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- June 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 31 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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