CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Courthill Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found suitable risk assessments, emergency plans, staffing, recruitment checks, medicine systems and infection control arrangements.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not assessed as part of this focused inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not assessed as part of this focused inspection, although people told inspectors that staff were kind and caring.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not assessed as part of this focused inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found clear management arrangements, regular audits, staff support and evidence that the home learned from incidents and complaints.
What inspectors found, September 2021
Courthill Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind care and improvements in risk management and leadership.
This was a focused inspection on 13 August 2021. One inspector spoke with people, relatives, staff, a healthcare professional and the local authority. They reviewed care records, medicine records, staff files, fire safety documents, audits and infection control arrangements.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found that risks were assessed, medicines were managed safely, staffing levels were suitable and recruitment checks had been completed. They were also assured that infection prevention procedures were being followed.
People said they felt safe and that staff were kind and caring. Staff and relatives described supportive management. The report says improvements had been made since the previous inspection, when the service was rated Requires Improvement.
Risk management
Care plans explained known risks and the steps staff should take. The provider also reviewed incidents and took action to reduce repeat risks.
“Assessments were in place to identify and manage risks. Care records included information on the steps staff should take to manage risks.” from the report
Safe staffing
Inspectors found enough suitably trained staff, with checks completed before staff started work.
“The provider followed safe recruitment practices. We reviewed staff files which showed the provider had completed appropriate checks prior to commencing employment.” from the report
Medicine support
Medicine records included key information, staff had training and checks, and people could be supported to take medicines independently.
“People received their medicines on time and were supported to take their medicines independently should they wish to.” from the report
Management and improvement
The home had regular quality audits and a clear management structure. Inspectors found that earlier recommendations about risk monitoring and quality assurance had been acted on.
“The provider had carried out regular audits of the quality of care in the service.” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had arrangements for preventing and managing infections, including safe use of protective equipment and support for visits.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are risk assessments updated when a person's needs or behaviour changes?
- 02How do you review 'when required' medicines and reduce their use where possible?
- 03How do you make sure staffing levels remain sufficient when people's needs change or staff are unavailable?
- 04Which actions from recent quality audits are still being completed?
- 05How will infection control arrangements and visiting procedures be maintained if there is an outbreak?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led, including infection prevention and control; the other key questions were not reassessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 30 September 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, March 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control arrangements.
The inspection took place on 9 March 2021 and was announced. It was a targeted inspection during the coronavirus pandemic, focused on infection prevention and control.
Inspectors were assured that the home was managing visitors, testing, personal protective equipment, shielding, social distancing and admissions safely. They were also assured that the home had suitable hygiene practices and an up-to-date infection control policy.
The home had created a separate visiting room in the garden. Visitors had to take a rapid COVID-19 test and show a negative result before entering. Staff also worked with the local GP practice to help people access regular medical treatment.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give a Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate rating for the home or for the areas inspected.
Separate visiting room
The home had created a visiting room in a detached building in the garden, so relatives did not need to enter the residential areas.
“The provider had created a designated visiting room in a detached building in the garden.” from the report
Access to medical care
Staff worked with the local GP practice link nurse to help people receive regular medical treatment during the pandemic.
“Staff had worked together with the local GP practice link nurse to ensure people had access to regular medical treatment throughout the pandemic.” from the report
Infection control arrangements
Inspectors were assured that the home had arrangements covering testing, protective equipment, hygiene, social distancing and infection outbreaks.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have the visiting room and visitor testing arrangements changed since the inspection on 9 March 2021?
- 02How do you currently test people living here and staff for infections?
- 03How do you make sure staff use personal protective equipment safely and effectively?
- 04How do you work with health professionals to make sure residents receive regular medical treatment?
- 05When was the home's infection prevention and control policy last reviewed?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; the service was inspected but not rated and the other care areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 March 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.
Every inspection of Courthill Care Home
5 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- September 2021Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- February 2020Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- January 2019Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 February 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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