CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Clifton Court Nursing Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Risks to people's health and wellbeing were identified and managed. Medicines were generally ordered, stored, given and disposed of safely, and there were enough suitably skilled staff. Some medicines were temporarily out of stock, and items in a communal bathroom increased cross-infection risks.
- Effective?
- Good
- People had thorough assessments before moving in and their needs were reviewed. Staff were trained, people were supported with food and drink and health care, and staff understood consent and best-interest decisions. Inspectors recommended adding more detail to some mental capacity assessments.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and relatives described staff as kind, patient and compassionate. Inspectors saw respectful interactions, support for independence, and people being involved in decisions about their care.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care records included people's preferences, routines and communication needs. There were activities, individual engagement, support for relationships and good arrangements for complaints and end-of-life care.
- Well-led?
- Good
- People and relatives said the home was well-led. The home had quality checks, an improvement plan, staff supervision and partnership working with health professionals. Some monitoring records did not contain the same level of detail, and further training was planned.
What inspectors found, July 2022
Clifton Court Nursing Home was rated Good; inspectors found significant improvements and kind, safe care, with a few records and infection-control issues needing attention.
This was an unannounced follow-up inspection on 1 and 6 July 2022. Inspectors spoke with people, relatives, staff and health professionals. They observed care and checked care records, medicine records, staff recruitment files and quality checks.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that risks were managed, medicines were generally handled safely, staffing was enough, and people had access to health care.
People and relatives described kind and respectful care. Inspectors saw patient, relaxed interactions, personalised support, activities and good end-of-life care. The home also involved people and families in care decisions.
The previous rating was Requires Improvement, with breaches of regulations 12 and 17. Inspectors found significant improvements and said the home was no longer in breach. They did identify some wardrobes that needed securing, items left in a communal bathroom, and some records that lacked detail or consistency.
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives consistently described staff as kind, patient and compassionate. Inspectors observed calm and supportive interactions.
“People told us they were supported by kind and considerate staff.” from the report
Improved safety
Risks were assessed and care records gave staff clear instructions. Medicines were managed safely overall and staffing levels were considered sufficient.
“Risks to people's health and wellbeing were identified, assessed and managed well.” from the report
Personalised support
Staff learned about people's histories, preferences and routines. Care records were reviewed as people's needs changed.
“Records contained personalised information which enabled staff to deliver care in a person-centred way.” from the report
Good activities and social contact
The home offered activities and entertainment, including one-to-one time for people cared for in bed. Inspectors found communal areas were stimulating.
“There was a programme of activities and entertainments to provide people with opportunities for social engagement.” from the report
Some safety hazards needed fixing
needs fixingSome freestanding wardrobes had not been secured to the wall, creating a risk of injury. The home secured them by the second day of the inspection.
“However, some freestanding wardrobes had not been secured to the wall which posed risk of injury.” from the report
Items left in communal bathroom
needs fixingToiletries and open packets of new continence products were left in a communal bathroom. The home removed them during the inspection because they increased cross-infection risks.
“People's toiletries and open packets of new continence products had been left in a communal bathroom which increased risks of cross infection.” from the report
Some medicines unavailable
needs fixingSupply problems meant some medicines could not be given as prescribed. The manager knew about this and had taken steps to find alternative stock.
“Due to supply issues, some medicines were out of stock which meant some medicines could not be given as prescribed.” from the report
Records were not always equally detailed
minorMost risk-monitoring records were completed well, but some did not contain the same level of detail. Further training and supervision were planned.
“However, we did identify some that did not have the same level of detail.” from the report
- 01How do you make sure prescribed medicines are available, and what happens when a medicine is out of stock?
- 02What checks now make sure wardrobes, furniture and other equipment are safely secured?
- 03How do you prevent toiletries and continence products being stored in communal bathrooms?
- 04What extra training and supervision are being provided to improve the detail and consistency of care records?
- 05How will you ensure mental capacity assessments contain enough detail for decisions about my relative?
This was an unannounced follow-up inspection that assessed all five key questions and included infection prevention and control checks; it followed breaches found at the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 July 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, March 2022
Clifton Court Nursing Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found improvements in records, incident monitoring and management oversight, but the previous Requires Improvement rating remains.
This was a targeted inspection on 3 February 2022. It followed a coroner's report after the death of a person living at the home. Inspectors checked whether action had been taken to reduce the risk of further deaths.
Inspectors reviewed care plans, incident records and quality checks, and spoke with the registered manager. They found a new electronic care system, better access to care information, improved incident monitoring and more regular communication between staff.
The home had increased staffing above its assessed minimum levels. Staff were identifying changes in people's health, monitoring them closely and making timely referrals to other healthcare professionals.
The home was inspected but not rated at this visit. The previous overall rating was Requires Improvement, published in December 2019, and that rating remains unchanged. A full rating will be considered at the next comprehensive inspection.
Better records
The new electronic care system made it easier for staff to access care plans and improved the recording and monitoring of information.
“A new electronic care management system had been implemented which improved the accuracy and efficiency of data recording and monitoring.” from the report
Incident monitoring
Accidents and incidents were recorded and reviewed. The manager used this information to look for patterns and improve people's quality of life.
“Records showed staff were recording sufficient information about accidents and incidents.” from the report
Health monitoring
Changes in people's physical and emotional health were discussed with healthcare professionals. People were monitored after treatment changes and referred on when needed.
“Timely referrals were made to specialised external healthcare professionals where necessary.” from the report
More staff communication
Staff had handover meetings at the start of shifts and regular staff meetings where they could raise concerns about people's welfare.
“Fortnightly staff meetings had also been introduced which gave staff the opportunity to raise any concerns they had about a person's welfare.” from the report
Previous serious care-record concerns
seriousThe inspection followed a coroner's report which identified missing records about aggressive incidents, a missed safeguarding alert and staff not knowing the care plan. This inspection checked the actions taken but did not provide a new full rating.
“the care plans did not record incidents where a person using the service had acted aggressively to staff members.” from the report
Full rating still outstanding
needs fixingThe well-led area was not fully assessed, so the previous Requires Improvement rating was not changed. Inspectors said the whole area would be assessed at the next comprehensive inspection.
“We will assess the whole key question at the next comprehensive inspection of the service.” from the report
- 01How are incidents, including incidents involving aggression, recorded and reviewed now?
- 02How do you make sure safeguarding concerns are referred to the local authority and CQC when necessary?
- 03How many staff are normally on each shift, and is staffing still above the assessed minimum level?
- 04How do staff use the electronic care system during each shift to check people's current needs?
- 05What progress has been made since this targeted inspection, and when is the next comprehensive inspection expected?
This was a targeted inspection of actions linked to a coroner's Regulation 28 report and did not fully assess the well-led area or the other key questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 25 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.
Every inspection of Clifton Court Nursing Home
6 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- July 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedWell-led: Inspected but not rated
- December 2019Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2015Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
- March 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 March 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.
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