CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Clifton House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, April 2021
Clifton House was inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong COVID-19 infection-control arrangements.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 29 March 2021. It looked at infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic, rather than the full quality of the home.
Inspectors found the home clean and free from clutter. They found cleaning schedules, infection-control policies, protective equipment and staff training in place.
The home had arrangements for safe visits, including a garden gazebo, temperature checks, lateral flow tests and protective equipment for visitors. People could also keep in touch with relatives by video call or telephone.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give an overall rating or ratings for the other areas of care.
Clean surroundings
Inspectors found the home clean and free from clutter, with detailed schedules for everyday cleaning.
“The service was free from clutter and clean. The service had comprehensive cleaning schedules in place for day to day cleaning.” from the report
Safe visiting
The home had a garden visiting area and used temperature checks, lateral flow tests and protective equipment for visitors.
“The service provided effective and safe ways for people to visit their relatives during the Covid-19 pandemic.” from the report
Testing and outbreak planning
Residents and staff were included in regular COVID-19 testing, and the home had a plan for isolating people if an outbreak occurred.
“The service had a contingency plan in the event of an outbreak of COVID-19.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have the home's visiting arrangements changed since the March 2021 inspection?
- 02What is the current plan if someone living in the home tests positive for an infection?
- 03How often are residents and staff tested now, and what happens after a positive result?
- 04What infection-prevention and control training do staff receive now?
- 05Can residents still use video calls and telephone calls to keep in touch with relatives?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control under Safe; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 April 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, December 2018
Clifton House: Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with a few records needing improvement.
This was a comprehensive inspection on 22 and 27 November 2018. The first day was unannounced. Inspectors spoke with most people living there, eight people in more detail, four staff and the registered manager. They also observed care and checked care records, medicines records, staff files and quality checks.
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 and respectful, medicines were managed safely, and people's care was tailored to their mental health, wellbeing and recovery goals.
The home had enough staff, good links with health and social care professionals, and activities that supported people's wellbeing and independence. A few issues were found and dealt with during or after the inspection, including an incomplete employment history, missing diabetes information in one support plan and concerns from two people about portion sizes.
The overall Good rating was unchanged from the previous inspection. The report says there was no evidence of serious risks or concerns and that the home met all fundamental standards.
People felt safe
People told inspectors they felt safe. Risks were assessed and managed while supporting people's freedom and independence.
“People told us they felt safe living at Clifton House. Risks were assessed and managed in a way that as far as possible promoted people's freedom and independence.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors saw staff treating people as adults, listening to them and respecting their privacy and dignity.
“All the interactions we saw and heard were professional and respectful but human, staff talking with people as adults and listening to what they said.” from the report
Support for recovery and independence
Care plans reflected people's mental and physical health, social needs and personal goals. People were encouraged to work towards greater independence.
“Each person's support was tailored to their individual needs, focusing on their recovery and wellbeing as they saw this.” from the report
Meaningful activities
People took part in activities inside and outside the home, including sport, community events and hobbies.
“There was an emphasis on meaningful activity to promote people's physical and mental wellbeing.” from the report
Good management and learning
The home used audits, incident records and meetings to identify issues, share learning and make improvements.
“The incident reporting system enabled the provider's management to view accidents, incidents, complaints and safeguarding to identify any trends.” from the report
One incomplete staff record
needs fixingOne recently recruited employee did not have a full employment history in their file as required. The manager corrected this after inspectors raised it.
“One employee who had recently started work did not have a full employment history on their file as required by the regulations.” from the report
One care plan missed diabetes information
needs fixingOne person's support plan did not include their diabetes, even though staff were providing the required support. The plan was updated after inspectors raised this.
“One person's diabetes was not detailed in their support plan, although staff were providing the support required.” from the report
Some concerns about food portions
minorTwo people said they sometimes found the portions small. The manager said portions and healthy choices were agreed with people rather than imposed.
“Two people said they sometimes found portion sizes small, whereas the other six were were happy with the amount of food.” from the report
More work on explaining complaints
minorThere were no formal complaints recorded in the previous year, although two complaints had been dealt with informally. The manager had identified a need to make sure everyone understood how to complain.
“The results were positive, but the registered manager had identified how further improvements could be made, including ensuring everyone understood how to make a complaint.” from the report
- 01How do you now check that every person's care plan includes important health conditions, such as diabetes?
- 02How do you make sure recruitment files contain a full employment history before staff start work?
- 03How are food portions agreed with each person, and how are concerns about portion sizes followed up?
- 04How do you explain the complaints process to new and existing residents, including how to make a formal complaint?
- 05What has changed at the home since the November 2018 inspection?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five questions, based on visits, discussions with people and staff, observations and checks of care, medicines, staff and management records. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 December 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 Clifton House
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 6 December 2010.
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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