CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Clarence House Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- The inspection looked specifically at infection prevention and control. Inspectors were assured about PPE, testing, visiting, cleaning, social distancing and outbreak arrangements.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not covered by this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not covered by this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not covered by this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This area was not covered by this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, May 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection prevention and control arrangements.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 25 March 2021. It checked how the home was preventing and controlling COVID-19 infections.
Inspectors found that visitors were tested, staff were trained to use personal protective equipment, and people and staff took part in regular testing and vaccination. The home monitored people for symptoms and had plans for positive test results or outbreaks.
The premises were clean and hygienic, with extra cleaning. The home was inspected but not rated, so this report does not provide an overall quality rating or ratings for most areas of care.
PPE and staff training
Staff had training and competency checks on putting on and taking off PPE safely. There were specific areas for changing PPE.
“Staff had completed training on how to safely put on and take off their PPE.” from the report
Testing and vaccination
People using the home and staff took part in regular COVID-19 testing and the vaccination programme.
“Staff and people who use the service were taking part in regular COVID-19 testing and the vaccination programme.” from the report
Clean premises
Inspectors found the premises clean and hygienic, with increased cleaning schedules.
“The premises were clean and hygienic with increased cleaning schedules.” from the report
Outbreak planning
The home monitored people for symptoms and knew what actions to take if someone tested positive or showed symptoms.
“The provider knew what actions to take in the event anyone using the service or staff displayed symptoms of COVID-19, or received a positive test result.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have your infection prevention and control arrangements changed since the inspection on 25 March 2021?
- 02How do you now manage COVID-19 testing and vaccination for people using the home and staff?
- 03How do you check that staff remain competent in using PPE safely?
- 04What are the current visiting arrangements, including any testing requirements?
- 05Can you explain how you would respond if a person using the home or a member of staff developed symptoms or tested positive?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas of care were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 25 May 2021 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, May 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe care, with minor infection-control issues dealt with during the visit.
The inspection took place on 11 and 13 April 2018. The first day was unannounced. One inspector spoke with people living at the home, visitors, staff and a health care professional, and observed care and a mealtime.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that people felt safe, staff were kind, medicines were managed safely and people's health, food and personal care needs were generally met.
Inspectors found some minor infection-control problems, including damaged shower chairs and equipment needing cleaning or replacement. These were acted on straight away. The inspection was also prompted by earlier safeguarding concerns, but the report says the investigations had finished and the home had put recommendations into practice.
Kind and respectful staff
People told inspectors staff were caring and kind. Inspectors saw people being supported with patience, dignity and respect.
“During our visit we saw staff assisting people in the communal areas of the service with patience, dignity and respect.” from the report
Safe medicines management
Medicines were audited and stored safely. Staff administering medicines had been trained, and they stayed with people until medicines had been taken.
“We found the arrangements for managing people's medicines were safe.” from the report
Personalised care
Care records included people's preferences, interests and life history. Staff understood people's individual needs and supported independence where possible.
“We found staff were knowledgeable about people who used the service and they understood their preferences and interests, as well as their health and support needs” from the report
Action after safeguarding concerns
The provider and manager acted on recommendations following earlier safeguarding investigations. This included more staff training and stronger monitoring of nutrition and fluid records.
“We found the provider and staff had learnt from the safeguarding issues raised and had acted to ensure people's wellbeing was maintained.” from the report
Activities and family contact
People could choose from activities and outings. Visiting was allowed at any time, and relatives were kept informed through meetings and newsletters.
“Visiting was permitted at any time and visitors were made welcome.” from the report
Infection-control equipment
needs fixingInspectors found rusty parts on shower chairs and some commode pots and urinals that needed cleaning or replacing. Gloves had also been left unsecured in communal bathrooms, creating a potential risk for people living with dementia.
“We found some issues with infection prevention and control practices; shower chairs had rusty steel above the wheels and some commode pots and urinals required cleaning or replacing.” from the report
Earlier safeguarding concerns
needs fixingThe inspection followed safeguarding concerns about areas including fluid records, nutrition, timely health advice and end-of-life care. The report says the investigations had concluded and recommendations had been implemented.
“Prior to this inspection safeguarding issues had been raised about some aspects of people's care and support, record keeping relating to fluid balance charts and people's nutritional needs” from the report
Care records still being rewritten
minorThe home was rewriting care files to make them more detailed and easier to use. At the time of the inspection, only half had been rewritten to the new standard.
“We found half of the people's care records had already been re-written to a high standard.” from the report
Possible delay at breakfast
minorOne person said they had waited for breakfast because staff were busy. They had not raised this with the manager, and inspectors described it as a minor issue.
“We did receive one comment from one person that they had to wait for breakfast because this was a busy time of day for the staff.” from the report
- 01Have all the shower chairs, commode pots and urinals identified at the inspection now been replaced, cleaned or repaired?
- 02How do you make sure gloves and other potentially unsafe items are kept securely away from people living with dementia?
- 03What changes were made after the earlier safeguarding concerns about nutrition, fluid records, health advice and end-of-life care?
- 04Have all care records now been rewritten, and how are changes in people's needs recorded and shared with staff?
- 05How do you make sure people are not kept waiting for meals during busy periods?
This was an inspection of the overall service covering all five CQC areas, prompted partly by earlier safeguarding concerns; the previous inspection had also rated the home Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 May 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.
Every inspection of Clarence House Care Home
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- May 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- May 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 4 April 2014.
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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32 live-in carers within about an hour of North Lincolnshire
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 £980 to £1,300 a week. 29 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“What truly stands out is how mindful and attentive she is to all of my medical needs, always going above and beyond to ensure I’m comfortable and well cared for.”
“Martin was more than a carer, he managed the home and became my uncle's best friend, enriching his life during his last few years.”
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.