CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Cecil Court
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, suitable training and safe medicines systems. Risks, safeguarding concerns, accidents and infection control were regularly reviewed and managed.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Inspectors found exceptionally strong leadership, an open and inclusive culture, clear responsibilities and thorough audits. The home worked with health and social care professionals and used feedback to improve care.
What inspectors found, March 2023
Cecil Court was rated Good overall, with Outstanding leadership and inspectors finding safe care during this focused inspection.
Inspectors visited on 8 and 9 February 2023. The first day was unannounced. They spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and health professionals. They also checked care plans, risk records, staff files, medicines records, rotas, audits and other records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Outstanding for Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practice, suitable recruitment and training, good infection control, and systems to manage risks, safeguarding concerns, accidents and complaints.
The home had a strong, open culture and thorough quality checks. Inspectors saw how the 'My Life' TV channel helped people, including people with dementia, enjoy topics that interested them and reduced anxiety.
This was not a full inspection of every area. Effective, Caring and Responsive were not inspected. Their previous ratings were used when calculating the overall Good rating. The previous overall rating was also Good, published in June 2018.
Strong leadership
The home was described as exceptionally well run. Leaders had clear responsibilities, used detailed audits and kept records up to date.
“The home was excellently led and managed in a positive, open, and transparent way and had an inclusive culture.” from the report
Safe staffing
Staffing levels matched the rota during the visit and people received help promptly. Recruitment checks, training and probation arrangements were in place.
“There were enough staff to meet people's needs and a thorough staff recruitment procedure that records demonstrated was followed.” from the report
Safe medicines
Inspectors found medicines were stored, administered and checked safely. The medicines records they reviewed had no errors or omissions.
“People's medicine records were kept up to date with no recording errors or omissions found on any of the Medicines Administration Records (MAR) sheets we looked at.” from the report
Personalised dementia support
The home had developed its earlier film project into a TV channel with topics chosen for people's interests. Inspectors saw this particularly benefit a person living with dementia.
“This has now been further developed by the home participating in the development of a 'My Life' TV channel” from the report
Listening and partnership working
The home gathered views from people, relatives and staff and worked with health and social care professionals. Feedback was used to make adjustments and improve care.
“The provider encouraged an open and inclusive culture by seeking the views of people, their relatives and staff.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you use the 'My Life' TV channel and other activities to match my relative's interests, history and dementia needs?
- 02What staffing levels would be in place for my relative's usual care needs, including at night?
- 03How will you assess and review my relative's risks, including falls, mobility, nutrition, hydration or choking?
- 04How will you keep me informed if something goes wrong with my relative's care, and how can I raise a complaint?
- 05What is the current position for the Effective, Caring and Responsive areas, which were not inspected in this report?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led; Effective, Caring and Responsive were not inspected and their previous ratings were used for the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 March 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
Inspected but not rated; Cecil Court had strong COVID-19 infection controls during an outbreak.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 26 January 2022. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and whether COVID-19 staffing pressures affected care.
Inspectors found robust measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Staff used protective equipment correctly, supplies were adequate, testing was in place and the home was clean. Policies and cleaning records were kept up to date.
Visits were restricted because of an outbreak, but essential care givers and people visiting someone at the end of their life could still visit. Staff also helped people stay in touch by telephone and video calls.
The service was inspected but not rated. This report does not provide an overall quality rating or ratings for the other four areas of care.
Infection control
The home had detailed measures to prevent and manage COVID-19 infection. Staff followed current infection control guidance and used protective equipment appropriately.
“There were robust and effective measures to prevent and minimise the risk to people, staff and those that visited from catching or spreading COVID-19.” from the report
Clean environment
The home was clean and hygienic. Cleaning schedules included regular cleaning of frequently touched surfaces.
“The home was hygienic, clean and records were kept in detail of staff cleaning schedules.” from the report
Keeping families in touch
Although visiting was restricted during the outbreak, staff supported people to maintain contact with relatives and friends by telephone and video calls.
“Appropriate communication arrangements were in place so that people could maintain relationships with relatives and friends.” from the report
Testing and outbreak planning
The home used regular testing for people living and working there and had plans for outbreaks and staff shortages.
“A 'whole home' COVID-19 testing program was adopted by the care home.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01Has the COVID-19 outbreak ended, and what infection control measures are still in place?
- 02What are the current rules for visits by relatives and essential care givers?
- 03Have new admissions and returns from hospital restarted, and what testing or isolation is required?
- 04How are staffing pressures managed if staff are absent because of COVID-19?
- 05How often are staff trained and updated in infection prevention and control?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 staffing pressures; the service was not rated and the other areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 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 Cecil Court
4 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Outstanding
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- June 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Outstanding
- March 2016Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 14 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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