CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Clifton House Residential Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found people were safe, safeguarding procedures were followed, environmental risks were managed and accidents were reviewed. Infection prevention and control arrangements were also found to be effective.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not assessed during the targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not assessed during the targeted inspection, although inspectors observed positive interactions between staff and people.
- Responsive?
- Good
- People took part in activities suited to their interests and were supported to maintain relationships and receive visitors.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found positive leadership, approachable management and quality checks aimed at maintaining standards. One significant event had not been reported to CQC, but the manager acted immediately when this was identified.
What inspectors found, April 2023
Clifton House Residential Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found people safe, supported and well cared for, with one missed notification to CQC.
This was an unannounced targeted inspection on 28 February 2023. Inspectors followed up concerns about safeguarding, health and safety, people's social needs, governance and management. They also checked infection prevention and control.
Inspectors found no evidence that people were at risk of harm from the concerns being followed up. People told inspectors they felt safe. Staff knew people well, managed risks, supported activities and relationships, and followed infection control procedures.
The home was described as well managed, with an effective quality assurance process and approachable management. However, inspectors found one significant event had not been reported to CQC. The manager acted immediately to resolve this.
The home was inspected but not rated. The previous overall rating and the previous ratings for the relevant questions were Good, published on 27 February 2019. This targeted inspection did not change those ratings.
People felt safe
People told inspectors they felt safe. Staff understood how to raise safeguarding concerns, and the provider acted promptly when safeguarding alerts were needed.
“I feel content and safe here. If there's anything I need, I just ask.” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home managed infection risks, used protective equipment safely and followed current infection prevention guidance.
“It's a nice clean and tidy home. All Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice is adhered to” from the report
Activities and relationships
People were supported with one-to-one and group activities, personal interests, visits and contact with loved ones.
“We offer 1 to 1 and group activities and we accompany [people] if they want to go for a walk” from the report
Approachable management
Staff and health professionals described the home as welcoming and said management was supportive and approachable. Quality checks were used to monitor the service.
“It's a lovely homely home, staff are very committed to the delivery of safe care and are very welcoming.” from the report
One significant event was not reported
needs fixingInspectors found that CQC had not been notified about one significant event. The manager acted immediately to resolve this, but families should ask what has changed to prevent a repeat.
“However, we identified one significant event that CQC had not been notified of and the registered manager acted immediately to resolve this.” from the report
- 01What was the significant event that was not reported to CQC, and what action was taken afterwards?
- 02How do you now check that all significant events are reported to CQC on time?
- 03How are activities reviewed so they continue to match each person's interests and abilities?
- 04How are environmental risks, accidents and incidents reviewed, and how are lessons put into practice?
- 05When will the next comprehensive inspection take place, and what areas will it assess?
This was a targeted inspection of specific parts of Safe, Responsive and Well-led, plus infection control; it did not assess the full five key questions and did not change the previous ratings. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 April 2023 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, February 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some end-of-life training still to complete.
Inspectors visited on 14 and 21 January 2019. The first visit was unannounced and the second was announced. They spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and healthcare professionals, and checked care, medicine, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found safe medicine management, suitable staffing, well-maintained risk assessments, kind and respectful care, personalised support and effective management systems.
The home had made significant improvements since the previous inspection, which was rated Requires improvement. One shortfall remained: only 25% of staff had completed end-of-life care training, and the manager said this would be arranged as a priority.
Safe medicines
Medicine records were completed accurately, including records for creams and controlled drugs. Staff had up-to-date training and their competence was checked.
“Medicine records we checked, including those for topical creams, had been completed accurately.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives described staff as kind and caring. Inspectors saw that privacy, dignity and independence were respected.
“People were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff respected people's privacy and dignity” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans described people's routines, preferences and support needs in detail. Staff were responsive when people's needs changed.
“Care plans were person centred, up to date and reviewed regularly.” from the report
Improvements since the last inspection
The home improved its laundry arrangements, environment, feedback systems and management records after the previous Requires improvement rating.
“The registered manager and deputy manager had made significant improvements throughout the service.” from the report
Learning from incidents
The home reviewed accidents and incidents, identified patterns and changed staffing and procedures to reduce risks.
“Recent analysis identified most falls happened during mornings when there was most activity, so the registered manager increased staffing levels in the morning.” from the report
End-of-life care training
needs fixingOnly 25% of staff had completed end-of-life care training when inspectors visited. The manager said this would be arranged as a priority.
“although only 25% of staff had completed training on end of life care.” from the report
- 01How many staff have now completed end-of-life care training, and when will the remaining staff complete it?
- 02How would you meet my relative's needs if they require nursing care, which this home does not provide?
- 03How are my relative's care plans and risk assessments reviewed when their needs or preferences change?
- 04What activities would be suitable for my relative, including if they are living with dementia?
- 05How would you respond if my relative became unwell or had a fall?
This was a planned inspection covering the overall quality of the service and all five CQC questions; the previous rating was Requires improvement, published on 14 February 2018. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 February 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 Clifton House Residential Care Home
5 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- April 2023Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not ratedResponsive: Inspected but not ratedWell-led: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Clifton House Residential Care Home →
- February 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Clifton House Residential Care Home →
- February 2018Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- December 2016Requires improvementup from InadequateSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2016InadequateSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: InadequateWell-led: Inadequate
- December 2015Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not ratedEffective: Inspected but not rated
- March 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- November 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 8 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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