CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Cedar House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- The inspection looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures. Inspectors were assured that the home used protective equipment, testing, screening, cleaning and updated infection control procedures.
- Effective?
- Good
- This was not assessed as a separate question in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This was not assessed as a separate question in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This was not assessed as a separate question in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This was not assessed as a separate question in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, March 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and safe visiting arrangements at Cedar House.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 8 February 2022. Inspectors gave the home 24 hours' notice and looked only at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements, and staffing pressures linked to COVID-19.
Inspectors found that visitors were screened, tested and given protective equipment. There was a separate visiting area and an outdoor area, which helped reduce infection risks. Staff were trained, used protective equipment correctly and received regular guidance.
The home was clean and hygienic. People and staff were screened and tested regularly. COVID-19 care plans and risk assessments were in place, and staff rotas were changed to reduce movement between services.
The service was inspected but not rated. This inspection does not provide an overall judgement about the quality of care or about areas that were not examined.
Safe visiting
The home had a designated visiting area with a separate entrance. Visitors were given information, screened for symptoms, tested and provided with protective equipment.
“All visitors to the home were screened for symptoms of COVID-19 and were required to undertake a lateral flow device test before their visit.” from the report
Staff preparation
Staff received training, support and guidance during the pandemic. Inspectors observed staff using protective equipment in line with guidance and the provider's policy.
“Staff were observed to be wearing PPE in line with government guidance and the providers policy.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean and hygienic. Cleaning responsibilities were shared across the staff team.
“The home was clean and hygienic. Robust cleaning processes in place followed the providers Infection Prevention and Control policy and procedures.” from the report
Individual infection plans
COVID-19 care plans and individual risk assessments considered people's health, medical support and how they wanted to be supported.
“COVID-19 care plans and individualised risk assessments had been completed for people, which considered risks associated with their health and medical support in relation to COVID-19.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection prevention and control arrangements are in place now, and when were they last reviewed?
- 02How are visitors currently screened, tested and supported during visits?
- 03How do you make sure staff do not move between services in a way that increases infection risk?
- 04How do you monitor and respond if a person or staff member develops possible symptoms of infection?
- 05What is the home's current staffing position, and how would staffing pressures affect people's care?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures at the care home only; it was not an overall assessment of the service. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 March 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.
What inspectors found, April 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, but medicines competency checks and some care records needed better follow-up.
Inspectors visited without notice on 22 and 23 February 2018. They visited the care home, the agency's office and one supported living scheme. They spoke with people, relatives, managers and care staff, observed care and checked care and management records.
The overall rating was Good. The care home remained Good, and this was the first comprehensive inspection of the agency's domiciliary care service. All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led.
People were protected from abuse, received medicines safely and had detailed risk assessments. Staff were trained and supported. Inspectors saw kind and respectful care, with people involved in their choices, care plans and activities.
Some improvements were identified. Medicine administration competency checks were not repeated after induction. Some monthly care plan checks were not recorded, and some people who lacked capacity had signed their care plans. These points were discussed with managers, who said they would make changes.
Safe medicines
The report found that medicines were given safely, on time and as prescribed. Records had no gaps or errors at the time of inspection.
“People received their medicines safely, on time and as prescribed.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans described people's needs, preferences and choices in detail. They were reviewed regularly and involved people, relatives or health professionals where appropriate.
“Care plans were detailed and person centred and provided clear information about the person, their likes, dislikes, choices and preferences on how they wished to be supported.” from the report
Kind relationships
Inspectors saw caring and respectful interactions. Staff knew people well and supported their dignity, independence and everyday choices.
“We observed caring, kind and respectful interactions between people and care staff.” from the report
Choice and liberty
People were supported to make choices and live as independently as possible. The previous concern about restrictions on liberty had been addressed.
“People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible” from the report
Learning from incidents
Accidents and incidents were recorded and discussed afterwards so staff could identify learning and possible improvements.
“A post-incident meeting held after each incident, gave all care staff involved an opportunity to review, reflect and analyse all information” from the report
Care plan audit records
minorMonthly care plan checks were carried out, but the outcomes were not always recorded. Inspectors raised this with managers.
“We did note that the registered manager did not record the outcome of the monthly care plan checks.” from the report
Signing care plans
needs fixingIn some cases, people who had been assessed as lacking capacity had signed their care plans. Managers agreed to consider whether people understood what they were signing.
“However, in some cases people who had signed their care plan had been assessed as lacking capacity.” from the report
- 01How often are staff now observed administering medicines and formally assessed as competent?
- 02How do you record the outcome of monthly care plan checks, and can I see an example?
- 03How do you check that a person understands a care plan before they sign it if they may lack capacity?
- 04How will my relative be involved in reviewing their care plan, risks and personal preferences?
- 05What activities and one-to-one support would be available for my relative?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection of both the six-person care home and the domiciliary care service in supported living, and was the first comprehensive inspection of the domiciliary care service. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 April 2018 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. The report was longer than we could read in one go; the later sections may not be reflected.
Every inspection of Cedar House
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- April 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 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.
- August 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 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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