CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Castle House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control, including visitors, testing, protective equipment, hygiene, isolation and outbreak planning. Staff were reminded to secure their masks so they did not need to keep adjusting or touching them.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, May 2021
Castle House was inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection-control arrangements, with a reminder about securing masks.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 22 January 2021. Inspectors checked how the home was preventing and controlling coronavirus infections. They looked at visiting arrangements, testing, protective equipment, cleaning, isolation and outbreak plans.
Inspectors were assured that the home was managing visitors safely, following shielding and social distancing rules, arranging testing and keeping infection-control policies up to date. Staff supported people in their rooms while some staff self-isolated after positive tests.
The report describes plentiful protective equipment, regular testing, comfort visits and clear information for visitors. The laundry area was being refurbished, and staff were due to receive updated infection-control training.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the inspection did not give a quality rating for the home or a full rating for all five areas of care.
Safe visiting arrangements
Visitors had to arrange visits in advance, complete a health declaration and take a lateral flow test before entering.
“Visitors were only permitted via prearrangement and were asked a health declaration and to take a lateral flow Covid test.” from the report
Testing and staffing
Regular testing was taking place, with an additional staff member helping to organise it.
“Regular testing was occurring, and a dedicated member of additional staff had been rotated on to ensure this ran smoothly.” from the report
Support during isolation
Staff supported people in their rooms and carried out comfort visits while the home managed positive staff tests and whole-home testing.
“Staff were working hard to ensure people had regular comfort visits in the rooms to check they were ok and to spend time with them as needed.” from the report
Outbreak planning
The home had policies and plans for managing an infection outbreak in line with national guidance.
“The service had developed policies and plans to ensure any outbreak was being managed within the national guidance.” from the report
Masks needed more secure use
minorInspectors signposted the provider to resources and said staff should be reminded to secure surgical masks. This was to reduce repeated mask adjustment and touching.
“This included ensuring staff were reminded to secure their surgical masks so they did not have to keep adjusting them or touching them.” from the report
- 01Has the laundry refurbishment been completed, and how does the laundry process now support infection control?
- 02Have staff received the updated training from the local infection-control team?
- 03How are staff reminded to secure their surgical masks and avoid touching them?
- 04How are regular tests organised now, and who is responsible for making sure they run smoothly?
- 05How will the home provide comfort and social contact for people who need to stay in their rooms?
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection of infection prevention and control under the coronavirus pandemic response; it did not assess the other care quality areas. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 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, February 2020
Castle House was rated Good overall, with kind and effective care, but some medicine records needed improvement.
This was an unannounced inspection. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and health professionals. They observed care and checked care plans, medicine records, recruitment files, training information and quality checks.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People said they felt safe and well cared for. Inspectors found enough staff, suitable training, safe recruitment, good healthcare support and care that reflected people's wishes.
There were some recording problems with medicines, including 'when required' medicines and some handwritten medicine records. The manager acted quickly after inspectors raised this. The Safe rating had improved from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection, while the other ratings remained Good.
Kind, respectful care
People said staff knew them well and treated them with compassion. Inspectors saw personalised support and respect for privacy and dignity.
“People said staff who supported them knew them well, understood their individual needs and showed care and compassion.” from the report
Staff training and support
Staff received induction, regular training updates and opportunities to discuss their development. Inspectors found staff had the skills and knowledge to support people safely.
“The training matrix showed staff received updates on all aspects of health and safety to ensure they could do their job effectively.” from the report
Good activities and community links
The home had increased activities and opportunities for people to go out. It also developed links with a local nursery and playgroup.
“There had been an increase in staffing hours to support and facilitate people being more meaningfully engaged, including going out and out into the local community.” from the report
People's views acted on
The home asked people, relatives and staff for their views and made changes in response. Examples included changes to the entrance and the menu.
“People, relative and staff views were asked for and acted upon.” from the report
Medicine records
needs fixingRecords for some 'when required' medicines were not always up to date, and some handwritten medicine records had not been signed. The manager acted immediately after this was raised.
“When medicines were prescribed for use "when required" records were not always up to date.” from the report
Staffing during sickness
minorOne person reported short staffing over Christmas. The manager said gaps were covered by extra shifts and agency staff, and inspectors found staffing levels sufficient during the inspection.
“One person said they had been short staffed over Christmas.” from the report
- 01How do you now check that 'when required' medicines have clear, up-to-date instructions?
- 02How do you make sure handwritten medicine records are signed and checked?
- 03How will you maintain staffing levels when there is illness or unexpected absence?
- 04What regular outings and community activities are currently available to residents?
- 05How will families be involved in reviewing their relative's care plan?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, with the Safe rating improved from Requires Improvement and the other ratings remaining Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 February 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 Castle House
4 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- May 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- February 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2017GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2016Inspected but not ratedSafe: Requires improvement
- June 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2015Inspected but not ratedSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Good
- July 2015Inspected but not ratedSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvement
- March 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 23 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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