CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Castle Park
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, safe medicines practice, improved infection control and up-to-date risk information.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had suitable training and supported people with nutrition, hydration, healthcare and decision-making. The home used recognised tools to monitor health and wellbeing.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused inspection. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused inspection. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The provider and registered manager had acted on concerns raised by partner agencies. Audits, feedback systems and partnership working were in place to monitor and improve the home.
What inspectors found, May 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, effective and well-led care, with improvements made after earlier concerns.
This was an unannounced focused inspection. Inspectors visited on 26 April 2023 and spoke with people, relatives and staff. They also reviewed care records, medicines records, food and fluid charts, and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicine arrangements, suitable training, good support with food and drink, access to healthcare, and systems for checking the quality of care.
The inspection followed concerns about management oversight, staffing, infection control, hygiene and capacity assessments. Inspectors found that the provider had taken action and found no evidence that people were at risk of harm during this inspection.
Risk and safeguarding
Risk assessments and care guidance were up to date. Staff understood how to recognise and report abuse.
“People were protected from the risk of harm as assessments were undertaken and followed.” from the report
Staffing and training
Inspectors found enough staff available to support people. Staff had the training, induction and supervision needed for their roles.
“People were supported by staff that were trained to carry out their roles.” from the report
Food, drink and healthcare
People at risk of malnutrition or dehydration were monitored and referred to healthcare professionals when needed. People were supported to access doctors and other health services.
“Where food and fluid charts were in place, these demonstrated that people had been offered enough to eat or drink on a regular basis.” from the report
Learning and oversight
The provider acted on concerns raised by partner agencies and put monitoring arrangements in place. Weekly and monthly audits covered areas including care records, infection control and medicines.
“Practices were in place to monitor the improvements made.” from the report
Infection control policy
minorThe home had improved its infection control practices, but the provider was still updating its infection control policy at the time of the inspection.
“The provider was in the process of updating their infection control policy.” from the report
Survey feedback
minorFeedback from recent surveys was positive, but the registered manager had not yet audited it because not all surveys had been returned.
“The registered manager confirmed she would audit the feedback once all surveys had been returned.” from the report
- 01How have you kept the infection control improvements in place, and has the infection control policy now been updated?
- 02How do you check that risk assessments and care records remain accurate and up to date?
- 03How do you monitor staffing levels when people’s needs change?
- 04How do you review medicines records and check that medicines are given as prescribed?
- 05When will the latest survey feedback be audited and shared with families?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Effective and Well-led only; Caring and Responsive were not inspected and their previous ratings were carried forward. This explanation was written from the published report of 20 May 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, February 2022
Castle Park was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection control and COVID-19 staffing measures.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 18 January 2022. Inspectors gave the home 24 hours' notice.
The inspection focused on infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inspectors also asked about staffing pressures linked to COVID-19.
Inspectors were assured about visitors, personal protective equipment, testing, hygiene, admissions, outbreak management and visiting arrangements. The home was also meeting the requirement for non-exempt staff and visiting professionals to be vaccinated.
The home was inspected but not rated. This report does not provide an overall quality rating or ratings for the other four questions.
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had arrangements to prevent and manage infections. This included PPE, testing, hygiene and outbreak planning.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Visiting arrangements
Inspectors were assured that visiting was being facilitated in line with the guidance in force at the time.
“We were assured the provider was facilitating visits for people living in the home in accordance with the current guidance.” from the report
Staff vaccination
The home was meeting the requirement for non-exempt staff and visiting professionals to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
“The service was meeting the requirement to ensure non-exempt staff and visiting professionals were vaccinated against COVID-19.” from the report
Staffing pressures
The provider told inspectors that it had measures to reduce the risks linked to COVID-19-related staff pressures.
“The provider told us they had measures in place to mitigate the risks associated with COVID-19 related staff pressures” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are COVID-19-related staffing pressures currently affecting the number and experience of staff on each shift?
- 02What infection control arrangements are currently in place for visitors and new admissions?
- 03How does the home provide PPE and testing for staff and residents now?
- 04What happens if there is an infection outbreak, and how would families be kept informed?
- 05Are all non-exempt staff and visiting professionals still meeting the vaccination requirement?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it did not provide ratings for the full range of care questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 February 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.
Every inspection of Castle Park
3 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- May 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- February 2016
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 22 February 2016.
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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78 live-in carers within about an hour of Derby
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 £1,260 a week. 62 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“We particularly appreciate the companionship Dawn gives in the evenings when she plays cards and Scrabble with my mother.”
“Rachel is a quietly spoken, extremely caring person and looked after Val very well.”
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.