CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at East Court
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. They found enough staff, safe recruitment and suitable risk, safeguarding and infection control arrangements, but some medicines management needed improvement.
- Effective?
- Good
- The report did not give a separate rating for Effective in this inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- The report did not give a separate rating for Caring in this inspection. Inspectors nevertheless found kind and compassionate care, with privacy, dignity and individual needs respected.
- Responsive?
- Good
- The report did not give a separate rating for Responsive in this inspection. Inspectors found staff supported people’s interests, choices, independence and aspirations.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found a clear management structure, an open culture and systems for involving people, relatives and staff. They said medicines audits needed to be more thorough.
What inspectors found, July 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, person-centred care, but some medicines records and checks needed improvement.
This was an unannounced inspection on 30 and 31 May 2023. Inspectors spoke with people, relatives, staff and health professionals. They reviewed care records, medicines records, recruitment files and the home’s management records.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe and Well-led were also rated Good. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, suitable safeguarding arrangements and good infection control measures.
People were treated with kindness and respect. Staff knew people well and supported their choices, interests and independence. However, some medicines records were incomplete, some as-needed medicines did not have full protocols, and medicines audits had not found these issues.
The home remained Good, as it was at the previous inspection published in November 2019. The report made a recommendation about reviewing medicines procedures. It did not say that any regulations had been breached.
Kind and respectful care
People received compassionate care. Staff protected privacy and dignity and understood people’s individual needs.
“People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people's privacy and dignity.” from the report
Choice and independence
Staff supported people to make choices, pursue interests and take appropriate risks in the least restrictive way.
“People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests” from the report
Safe staffing
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people’s needs, with additional staff available if unexpected shortages occurred.
“There were enough staff available to meet people's needs.” from the report
Positive culture
People, relatives and staff described the home positively. Staff knew people well and supported their chosen quality of life.
“There was a person centred and positive culture in the service.” from the report
Safeguarding
People said they felt safe. Staff had safeguarding training and knew how to report concerns.
“Staff received safeguarding training.” from the report
Incomplete medicines records
needs fixingTwo handwritten medicines entries had not been signed or countersigned. Some stock records were unclear, and one medicines stock was incorrect.
“We found 2 examples where these had not been signed by staff or countersigned.” from the report
Missing as-needed medicine protocols
needs fixingProtocols were not in place for all as-needed medicines. The manager began creating the missing protocols during the inspection.
“Whilst there were protocols in place for some of these medicines, they were not in place for all PRNs.” from the report
Medicines audits
needs fixingThe home’s checks had not identified the medicines problems found by inspectors. Additional auditing checks were being introduced.
“Some improvements were required to ensure medicines were thoroughly audited.” from the report
Hot water temperatures
needs fixingSome bedroom sink temperatures were higher than recommended guidance. The manager said thermostatic mixer valves would be fitted.
“Records demonstrated some of the hot water temperatures in people's bedroom sinks were higher than recommended in guidance.” from the report
- 01Have the missing protocols for all as-needed medicines now been completed and reviewed?
- 02How do you make sure handwritten medicines entries are signed and countersigned every time?
- 03What additional checks are now used to make sure medicines stock records are accurate?
- 04Have thermostatic mixer valves been fitted to the bedroom sinks with higher water temperatures?
- 05How does the home provide person-centred care across the Main House, Garden House and separate flat?
This inspection gave ratings for Safe and Well-led only; the other three key questions were not separately rated in this report. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 July 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, November 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with people supported to be independent and active.
The inspection took place without notice on 30 September and 1 October 2019. One inspector spoke with five people, two relatives and five staff. They also observed care and checked care, medicine, staff and management records.
The home supports 17 people with learning disabilities, including autism. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicine systems and detailed risk assessments. People said they felt safe and were happy living there.
Care was personalised and people were involved in decisions about their support, food and activities. Staff were described as kind and respectful. People were supported to take part in community activities, maintain relationships and build independence.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was a planned inspection based on the previous Good rating, which was published on 20 February 2017.
Personalised support
Care plans gave staff clear guidance about people's routines, preferences and how to reduce anxiety. People were involved in writing and reviewing their plans.
“Care plans were personalised with very clear information in how people preferred to be supported.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were supported to make decisions, manage some tasks themselves and live as independently as possible. The home followed the values of choice, inclusion and independence.
“People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent” from the report
Kind relationships
Inspectors saw a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere. People described staff as kind, and relatives said communication was good and their views were heard.
“People were relaxed and cheerful in the presence of staff. There was a very relaxed atmosphere in the home.” from the report
Activities and community life
People took part in activities they chose, including arts and crafts, local events, holidays and visits with family and friends.
“People were able to participate in a range of activities of their choice that met their individual needs and encouraged them to continue to follow interests.” from the report
Strong staff support
Staff received an induction, regular training and support for further courses. Inspectors found that staff understood people's individual needs.
“All staff demonstrated a good knowledge of people's individual needs.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What progress has been made with the assessment to install a lift as people's mobility needs change?
- 02How would you support my relative's particular routines, communication needs and preferences?
- 03How do people choose their activities, holidays and community visits, and how much support is available?
- 04How are medicines managed if my relative wants to take some responsibility for them?
- 05How do you make sure staffing levels remain sufficient during recruitment or staff shortages?
This was an unannounced planned inspection that looked at all five CQC questions, including the care provided and the home’s premises. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 November 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 East Court
3 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- July 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 4 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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76 live-in carers within about two hours of Somerset
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 £1,020 to £1,370 a week. 62 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“She looked after my mum, who can be incredibly challenging, so well and so gently, and we always felt confident that my mum was getting the best care available.”
“She was not phased by anything, she was adaptable, kind & gave us complete confidence to go away & not worry about a thing!”
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.