CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Clement Court
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
What inspectors found, June 2022
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe and well-managed care, with cleaning schedules needing improvement.
This was an unannounced inspection on 24 May 2022. Inspectors spoke with seven people living at the home, 12 relatives, 16 staff and two visiting professionals. They also checked care files, staff recruitment records, medicines records, audits, training and health and safety records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People told inspectors they felt safe, received help without long waits and were treated with kindness and respect. Inspectors also found safe medicines practices, suitable staffing, good training and support from health professionals.
Inspectors recommended stronger deep-cleaning schedules and an extra cleaning rota. The registered manager responded straight away by recruiting and training two additional domestic workers. Inspectors also found a staff member appeared rushed while giving medicines, and some information known by staff was not yet recorded in care plans.
The previous rating, under the former provider, was Requires Improvement in June 2019. This inspection found the service had improved to Good. The inspection was prompted partly by concerns about monitoring people's drinks, weight and food intake, but inspectors found no evidence that people were harmed by this.
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives said staff were warm, kind and respectful. Inspectors saw that staff promoted dignity, choice and independence.
“People were treated with kindness and respect by the staff who supported them.” from the report
Safe medicines and staffing
Medicines were administered by trained staff and records matched the medicines held. Staffing and recruitment arrangements were also found to support people's safety.
“People received the right medication at the right time by trained staff.” from the report
Good food and social life
People could choose meals and have drinks and snacks when they wanted. Inspectors found mealtimes sociable and activities included people's interests.
“The mealtime experience was a very sociable event. The food smelt and looked appetising and people told us how much they enjoyed their meals.” from the report
Responsive communication
The home assessed communication needs and provided tools such as large-print information and picture cards. People were supported to express themselves and stay involved.
“Picture cards were available on each floor to support people who struggled to verbally communicate.” from the report
Open management
Staff said they could raise concerns with the registered manager. Audits, meetings and feedback were used to learn from incidents and improve care.
“There were numerous checks and audits in place to monitor quality and safety.” from the report
Cleaning schedules
needs fixingInspectors were only partially assured about the premises' cleaning and hygiene arrangements. They recommended a more vigorous deep-cleaning schedule and an additional cleaning rota.
“We recommended a more vigorous deep cleaning schedule and additional cleaning rota.” from the report
Medicine round appeared rushed
needs fixingOne staff member appeared rushed while administering medicines. The registered manager responded immediately and created a support plan.
“Although, one staff member appeared rushed during medicine administration.” from the report
Care plans did not always contain all known information
minorStaff knew some useful information about people's needs and ways to support them that was not initially recorded in care plans. The registered manager updated the plans after this was identified.
“Although staff did appear to know more information about people which was not in the care plans.” from the report
- 01What cleaning changes were made after the recommendation, and how are deep-cleaning schedules now checked?
- 02How do you make sure medicine rounds are not rushed and that staff receive support if they need it?
- 03How quickly are care plans updated when staff identify new information about a person's needs or preferred support?
- 04How are relatives invited to use the weekly informal drop-in session, and how are concerns followed up?
- 05How do you monitor people's food, drinks and weight after the concerns that prompted this inspection?
This inspection considered all five key questions and infection prevention measures, and was prompted partly by concerns about monitoring people's food, drinks and weight. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 June 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 Clement Court
6 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- June 2022Goodcurrent ratingup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2019Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- December 2018Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- April 2018Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- June 2017Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2020
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 May 2020.
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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What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Stoke-on-Trent
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 £1,190 a week. 93 can care for a couple. 9 years' experience on average.
“She's shown compassion, patience and a level of understanding that no other carer has given.”
“She maintained a great environment for mum both with the tidiness and cleanliness of the house and Mum and with her caring and understanding attitude.”
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.