CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Courtlands Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home had safe infection prevention and control arrangements. They found suitable procedures for visitors, admissions, testing, protective equipment, cleaning and isolation.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, November 2020
Courtlands Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control and no concerns about the response to COVID-19.
Inspectors made an announced visit on 27 October 2020. This was a targeted inspection during the coronavirus pandemic. It looked at infection prevention and control in the home.
They found suitable arrangements for visitors, admissions, testing, protective equipment, cleaning and isolation. Staff showed suitable knowledge of infection control, and inspectors said the home was clean.
The home helped people keep in touch with family and friends through calls, the internet and newsletters. It also provided activities and arranged some outings in line with government guidance.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the visit did not give an overall quality rating or full ratings for all five areas of care. Inspectors said they found no concerns about the response to COVID-19 or general standards of quality and safety.
Visitor safety
Visitors used a separate room where possible. When people needed to enter the main building, the home used risk assessments and protective equipment.
“We were assured the service were following safe infection prevention and control procedures to keep people safe.” from the report
Infection control
The home had up-to-date procedures, regular testing and an area for people who needed to isolate. Inspectors found no concerns about its response to COVID-19.
“We found no concerns in respect to the provider's response to the Covid -19 pandemic, or in general regarding standards of quality and safety.” from the report
Clean environment
The home was very clean and had additional cleaning support to reduce infection risks.
“The service was very clean and had effective cleaning routines to ensure risks were minimised and people were kept safe.” from the report
Keeping people connected
Staff helped people stay in contact with relatives and friends using phones, the internet, tablets and social media.
“Staff had helped people to stay in touch with family and friends through phone calls, and through the internet.” from the report
Staff knowledge
Staff had suitable infection control training and inspectors observed them following good practice.
“Staff had received suitable training and guidance regarding infection control, and how to respond to the Covid 19 pandemic.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection control arrangements are currently used for visitors entering the main building?
- 02How are new residents tested and supported if they need to isolate?
- 03How often are staff and residents currently tested for infections?
- 04How would the home manage an infection outbreak or a need to isolate residents?
- 05How have activities, outings and contact with relatives changed since the inspection in October 2020?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; the home was not given an overall rating or full ratings for the other care areas. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 November 2020 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, October 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some staff training still being updated.
This was an unannounced inspection on 20 August 2018. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, relatives, managers and staff. They observed care, checked the building and reviewed care records, staff files, training records and other documents.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. Inspectors found that people felt safe and happy, staff knew people's needs, medicines were managed safely and care plans were regularly reviewed.
The home had enough staff and a calm atmosphere. People were treated with kindness and respect, had choices about daily life and were supported to take part in activities. Some staff training needed updating, and equality and diversity training was not yet in place.
Managing risks
People's individual risks were assessed and staff knew how to manage them while supporting independence. Incidents were reviewed so the home could learn from them.
“People's risks were being managed effectively to ensure they were safe.” from the report
Medicines
Medicines were administered as prescribed. Storage, temperature checks and controlled drug records were found to be accurate.
“Medicines were being administered as prescribed.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw patient and discreet care, with staff taking time to communicate with people and support their choices. People and relatives spoke positively about the care.
“Staff were patient and discreet when providing care for people.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's care, emotional and social needs. Staff knew people's histories, preferences and wishes, and records were reviewed as needs changed.
“Care plans were personalised to the person and gave clear details about each person's specific needs and how they liked to be supported.” from the report
Activities and dementia-friendly design
The home provided group and individual activities. It also used visual cues, coloured bedroom doors and named doors to help people living with dementia recognise their surroundings.
“There was evidence that people had access to a range of activities.” from the report
Training updates
minorSome staff needed refresher training in areas including infection control, moving and handling and safeguarding. Arrangements were in place, but families should check that this was completed.
“Some staff needed to update their training in some areas to ensure their knowledge and skills were refreshed and up to date.” from the report
- 01Have all staff now completed the refresher training in infection control, moving and handling and safeguarding?
- 02Has equality and diversity training been introduced for all staff, and how is it kept up to date?
- 03How would you support my relative to use the garden safely, given its proximity to the main road?
- 04How would you assess and update my relative's care plan after they move in?
- 05What activities and one-to-one support would be available for my relative, particularly if they were living with dementia?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions and the overall rating, with the home, care provided, records, staff and management systems examined. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 October 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 Courtlands Care Home
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- November 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- October 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2013
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 24 October 2013.
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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10 live-in carers within about two hours of Cornwall
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 £1,200 a week. 8 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
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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.