CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Clara Court
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff, appropriate recruitment checks, detailed risk assessments and safe medicines management. Call bells were answered promptly and the home was clean.
- Effective?
- Outstanding
- Staff had regular training and support. Dementia, dignity, health and safety and other champions helped staff provide individual care, while a hydration project was linked to fewer urine infections and related falls.
- Caring?
- Good
- People's dignity and privacy were protected and staff were respectful. People and families were involved in care plans, room personalisation and important decisions.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Care plans reflected individual wishes, abilities and cultural needs. The home offered varied activities, supported community access and provided highly personalised end of life care.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had clear values, approachable management and systems for monitoring quality and learning from incidents. Staff said they felt supported, valued and proud to work there.
What inspectors found, March 2019
Rated Outstanding; inspectors found safe, respectful care with particularly strong support for people's health, choices and individual lives.
Inspectors visited on 31 October and 2 November 2018. The first day was unannounced. They spoke with people, relatives, staff and health professionals, observed care, and checked care records, medicines and management records.
The home was rated Good for safe, caring and well-led services. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines management, respectful care and good involvement of people and families in care decisions.
The home was rated Outstanding for effective and responsive care. Inspectors found strong staff development, creative support for people living with dementia, excellent activities and highly personalised end of life care. The overall Outstanding rating means the inspection found care that was consistently very good, with examples of exceptional practice.
Enough staff and safe medicines
Inspectors found sufficient staff to meet people's needs and saw prompt responses to call bells. Medicines records and checks showed medicines were managed as prescribed.
“Sufficient staff were available to ensure people's needs were met.” from the report
Strong dementia support
Staff champions shared specialist knowledge and helped colleagues provide more individualised support. Inspectors found this improved people's quality of life and helped reduce difficult behaviour.
“There were champions within the service who actively supported staff to make sure people experience good healthcare outcomes leading to an outstanding quality of life.” from the report
Personalised activities and choices
People were supported to pursue interests, keep relationships, access the community and achieve personal wishes. Activities included trips, music, animals, exercise and links with a local school.
“Arrangements for social activities were innovative to meet people's individual needs so people could live as full a life as possible.” from the report
Excellent end of life support
The home recorded people's wishes, including communication, language and religious needs. Staff worked with families and health professionals to provide individual support at the end of life.
“The service supported people at the end of their life and worked closely with healthcare professionals to provide outstanding end of life care.” from the report
Respectful involvement of families
Families were involved in assessments, care plans and reviews. The home also supported contact between people and relatives who lived far away.
“Families were involved in any decision making with regards to their relative's plan of care.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you assess and record my relative's dementia needs, preferences and communication style?
- 02How will you make sure my relative receives enough drinks and food, especially if their appetite or fluid intake falls?
- 03What activities and community opportunities would be suitable for my relative's interests and abilities?
- 04How are families involved in reviewing care plans and updating them when needs change?
- 05How would you record and respect my relative's wishes about end of life care, including language or religious needs?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the premises and care provided; the report says the service had improved from Good in 2016. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 March 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 Clara Court
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- March 2019Outstandingcurrent ratingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: OutstandingCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- June 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 11 January 2011.
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
83 live-in carers within about an hour of Windsor and Maidenhead
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. 76 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“I can truly say that Peter always put Dad at the centre of everything and I know that they found a great friendship in difficult times.”
“Not only has she looked after him beautifully, she has also been great company for him with lively conversation, kindness and humour.”
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.