CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Cestria House Residential Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about the home's infection control, use of PPE, visiting arrangements, admissions, hygiene and outbreak management. There was a minor misunderstanding about testing staff who had previously tested positive for COVID-19, but this had no impact on residents.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Targeted inspection found good infection control practice; the service was inspected but not rated.
Inspectors visited on 28 January 2022 after concerns about infection prevention and control. This was a short-notice, targeted inspection focused on infection control and staffing pressures linked to COVID-19.
The inspectors found enough personal protective equipment, staff who understood how to use it, and systems for testing and recording vaccination status. They were assured that the home was managing visitors, admissions, distancing, hygiene and infection outbreaks safely.
The home was inspected but not rated overall. The Safe question was also inspected but not rated. The report does not assess the other four questions.
PPE supplies and use
The home had ample personal protective equipment. Staff understood how to put it on and take it off safely.
“There were ample supplies of PPE. Staff understood how to put on and take off the PPE.” from the report
Visiting arrangements
The home supported family and social contact in line with government guidance. It also offered video and telephone calls.
“Relatives were complimentary of the way the staff were managing visiting.” from the report
Vaccination records
All staff were fully vaccinated, and the home recorded the vaccination status of staff and non-exempt visitors.
“The service was meeting the requirement to ensure non-exempt staff and visiting professionals were vaccinated against COVID-19.” from the report
Response to infection control advice
The home had acted on feedback from infection control specialists.
“Action had been taken in relation to feedback from infection control specialists.” from the report
Testing guidance
minorInspectors found a minor misunderstanding about testing staff who had previously tested positive for COVID-19. They said this did not affect residents and signposted the provider to further resources.
“There was a minor misinterpretation of guidance in relation to testing staff who had previously tested positive for COVID-19. This had no impact on people using the service.” from the report
- 01What changes have you made to staff testing guidance since the minor misinterpretation identified by inspectors?
- 02How do you currently check and record the vaccination status of staff and visiting professionals?
- 03How would you support family visits if there were another infection outbreak?
- 04How do you manage staffing pressures linked to COVID-19, and what impact could they have on residents?
- 05How do you keep your infection prevention and control policy up to date?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control measures and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated and the other questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 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.
What inspectors found, November 2019
Rated Good overall; inspectors found kind, safe care and exceptionally responsive support, with some recruitment records needing improvement.
Inspectors visited on 6 and 7 November 2019. The first day was unannounced. They spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff, healthcare professionals and others. They also checked care records, medicines records, recruitment files, the building and quality checks.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring and Well-led. People said they felt safe and well cared for. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practice, suitable care planning, good staff training and positive links with healthcare professionals.
Responsive care was rated Outstanding. People were supported to follow their interests, attend activities and maintain links with relatives and the local community. Inspectors found two issues during the visit: some staff recruitment checks had not been fully recorded, and one bedroom carpet was in poor condition. These issues were addressed during the inspection, and no one was harmed.
Activities and community links
People were supported to continue their interests, attend events and stay involved with the local community. Activities were shaped around people's wishes and abilities.
“People living in the home were involved in organising and directing the activities programme.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives described staff as caring and kind. Inspectors saw positive interactions and found that staff understood people's preferences and protected their dignity.
“People told us staff treated them with dignity and were respectful.” from the report
Healthcare support
The home worked closely with GPs, district nurses and other healthcare professionals. Records showed that healthcare visits, advice and outcomes were documented.
“Staff worked effectively with healthcare professionals to ensure people's healthcare needs were met.” from the report
Safe medicines practice
Medicines were administered at the right time and in line with instructions. Staff who gave medicines had relevant training and were checked regularly.
“We observed medicines being administered. We saw good practice was followed to ensure people received the correct medicine safely and at the right time.” from the report
Gaps in recruitment records
needs fixingSome staff files did not contain all the required information, including checks with previous employers, health checks and employment histories. The records were completed during the inspection, and no one was harmed.
“We recommend that the provider thoroughly reviews its recruitment processes at this location to ensure they are compliant with legislation and best practice.” from the report
Bedroom carpet
needs fixingOne bedroom carpet was in unacceptable condition and could have created an infection risk. It was thoroughly cleaned during the inspection, with further discussion planned with the person and family.
“Although the provider continued to have safe and effective infection control procedures, we noted a person's bedroom carpet was in unacceptable condition.” from the report
- 01How do you now make sure every staff file contains complete employment history, health checks and checks with previous employers?
- 02How do you check that bedroom carpets and other furnishings remain clean and safe?
- 03How are activities planned around each resident's interests, including activities outside the home?
- 04How will you support my relative to keep in touch with family, friends and community groups?
- 05How do staff record and respond to changes in a resident's health or nutritional needs?
This was a planned inspection covering the premises and care provided, with ratings given for all five key questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 November 2019 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 Cestria House Residential Home
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Cestria House Residential Home →
- November 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Cestria House Residential Home →
- April 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 2 August 2013.
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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
36 live-in carers within about an hour of Newcastle upon Tyne
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 £950 to £1,160 a week. 30 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in the night.”
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.