CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Cumnor Hill House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People said they felt safe. Inspectors found enough staff, appropriate risk assessments and generally safe medicines management, but some medicine temperature checks were not recorded consistently when agency staff were on duty.
- Effective?
- Good
- Care assessments were comprehensive and staff received induction, training and supervision. People were supported with food, drinks, healthcare and decisions about their care.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and relatives described staff as kind and caring. Inspectors saw respectful communication and support for people's privacy, dignity, independence and involvement in care decisions.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was personalised around people's needs, preferences and routines. People could choose activities or decline them, and complaints were handled through the provider's complaints process.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had a clear management structure, an approachable manager and quality checks that were used to make improvements. Staff, relatives and healthcare professionals reported improvements over the previous year.
What inspectors found, April 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with minor recording issues to monitor.
Inspectors visited without notice on 9 and 17 March 2023. They spoke with people, relatives, staff and healthcare professionals. They also reviewed care records, medicine records, staff files, complaints, incidents and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People said they felt safe and well cared for. Inspectors found enough staff on duty, safe medicines practices, personalised care, good food, activities and strong management oversight.
There were some minor issues. Temperature checks for medicines were not always recorded consistently when agency staff were working. Changing electronic care systems had also caused some duplicated records, although staff knew people's needs and inspectors said this had not affected care.
The previous rating, under the former provider, was Requires Improvement, published in June 2022. The report says staffing, care and management had improved since then.
Improved staffing
Inspectors found enough staff on duty and saw that people were attended to promptly. The home was also using fewer agency staff.
“On the day of the inspection we saw there were enough staff on duty to meet people's needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives described staff as warm, kind and helpful. Inspectors saw staff speaking respectfully and supporting people's dignity and independence.
“We observed staff talking to people in a polite and respectful manner.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans reflected people's needs, preferences and routines. People and relatives were involved in planning and reviewing care.
“People received care and support specific to their needs, preferences and routines.” from the report
Good food and activities
People had a choice of food and could eat in their rooms if they wished. They could take part in hobbies and activities without being pressured.
“People had access to a variety of activities which included individual and group activities some of which were linked with public holidays such as Christmas and Halloween.” from the report
Medicine temperature records
needs fixingSome temperature checks were not recorded consistently. This happened when agency staff were on duty, and further staff training was being provided.
“However, we found some inconsistences in recording of temperature checks which coincided with when agency staff were on duty.” from the report
Duplicated care records
minorThe home was changing electronic recording systems, which caused some duplicated information. Inspectors said staff still knew people's needs and care was not affected.
“The provider was in between changing electronic recording systems and this resulted in some duplications.” from the report
Permanent staffing
minorAlthough inspectors found enough staff, some people and relatives felt there could still be more permanent staff. The home had reduced its use of agency staff.
“I do wish there was more permanent staff but across the care sector more staff are leaving due to low pay and until the government step in to help this will not change.” from the report
- 01How do you check and record medicine storage temperatures when agency staff are working?
- 02What training and checks are now in place to prevent missing medicine temperature records?
- 03Has the change to the electronic care recording system been completed, and how do you remove or manage duplicated records?
- 04How many permanent staff currently work in the home, and how often are agency staff used?
- 05How would you support my relative to choose activities or continue hobbies if they do not want to join group activities?
This was an unannounced inspection covering the home's premises and care across all five CQC questions, including infection prevention and control. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 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.
Every inspection of Cumnor Hill House
4 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- April 2023Goodcurrent ratingup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2022Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- January 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- June 2018Outstandingup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- June 2017Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- February 2023
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 17 February 2023.
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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38 live-in carers within about an hour of Oxfordshire
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 £1,300 a week. 32 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“We can all fully relax around Nyarai and she feels like part of our family, which is no mean feat!”
“She was v competent and confident and we felt our mum was safe in her care. She supported us through a difficult time.”
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.