CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Eckington Court Nursing Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Medicines were stored, given and recorded using safe systems. Risks were reviewed, safeguarding concerns were acted on and lessons were learnt after incidents.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had relevant training and people received support with food, drinks, health needs and access to professionals. Consent and best-interest processes were in place.
- Caring?
- Good
- Inspectors saw kind and respectful interactions. People were supported to make choices, maintain privacy and remain as independent as possible.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were detailed and personalised, and staff understood people's changing needs. Activities, communication and complaints processes were adapted to individuals.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The manager was approachable and audits, meetings and clinical reviews were used to monitor care and make improvements. Staff and relatives had opportunities to give feedback.
What inspectors found, April 2020
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, and said medicines risks had been addressed after a serious incident.
This was an unannounced inspection on 9 March 2020. Two inspectors and a medicines inspector spoke with people, relatives, staff and visiting professionals. They also observed care and checked care plans, medicines records, staff records and management audits.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, detailed care plans, kind support and regular checks on care quality.
The inspection followed notification of a serious incident in which a person was injured. CQC did not examine what happened because the incident might be subject to a criminal investigation. The inspection did examine concerns about medicines and found that lessons had been learnt, new checks were in place and there was no evidence that people remained at risk from that concern.
The home had also been rated Good at the previous inspection, published on 5 June 2018. CQC said it would continue monitoring information about the home and could inspect sooner if new concerns arose.
Safe medicines systems
Inspectors found organised systems for receiving, storing, giving and disposing of medicines. Staff were observed giving medicines compassionately and at the right time.
“Medicines systems were organised, and the provider was following safe protocols for the receipt, storage, administration and disposal of medicines.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff knew people well and responded thoughtfully when they were distressed.
“We saw caring interaction between staff and people throughout the inspection.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans included people's preferences, health needs and risks. Staff could explain how they supported individuals and updated plans when needs changed.
“People had care plans which were personalised and detailed.” from the report
Strong oversight
The home used audits, electronic care records and clinical governance meetings to identify concerns and make changes, including training where needed.
“There was a regular clinical governance meeting to review these themes and consider any serious incidents so that changes could be made; such as providing staff training.” from the report
Serious incident outside this inspection's scope
needs fixingThe inspection followed an incident in which a person suffered a serious injury, but CQC did not investigate the circumstances. The report says this may be subject to a criminal investigation.
“This incident may be subject to a criminal investigation.” from the report
Staff sickness could affect staffing
minorInspectors found enough staff during the visit, but one staff member said it could be harder to provide support when colleagues were off sick.
“When staff are off sick it can be more difficult.” from the report
- 01What new medicines checks and protocols were introduced after the incident, and how are they tested now?
- 02What can you tell us about the serious injury incident, and what safeguards were put in place afterwards?
- 03How do you maintain safe staffing levels when staff are off sick?
- 04How often are care plans and risk assessments reviewed when a person's needs change?
- 05How are families told about complaints, incidents and changes in their relative's care?
This inspection was prompted by a serious incident and focused on medicines risks, although CQC also rated all five key questions; it did not examine the circumstances of the incident because it might be subject to a criminal investigation. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 April 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, July 2018
Eckington Court Nursing Home was rated Good; inspectors found caring, safe care and clear improvements since the previous inspection.
Inspectors visited on 5 June 2018 without warning. They spoke with people living in the home, relatives and staff. They observed care and checked care plans, medicines records, staff recruitment checks and quality audits.
All five areas were rated Good: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. People said they felt safe and that staff were kind, respectful and helpful. Inspectors found that medicines, risks, staffing, infection control, food, healthcare and activities were generally managed well.
The home had improved since the previous inspection in November 2016, when it was rated Requires Improvement overall and in Safe and Well-led. Inspectors still found some care records were not fully completed, and one person waited about ten minutes for their call bell to be answered.
Safer medicines systems
The home had introduced an electronic medicines system. Inspectors found medicines were stored securely, records were clear and audits were carried out.
“At this inspection it was evident that people's medicines had been appropriately managed.” from the report
Good food and support
People were offered choices and staff supported those who needed help or encouragement to eat. Dietary needs, including allergies and special diets, were understood.
“A choice of two hot meals and three deserts were offered, with sandwiches available for those who did not want a hot meal.” from the report
Activities and personal choices
People were supported to follow their interests and join group or one-to-one activities. Care planning included personal preferences, hobbies and life history.
“People were supported to follow their interests and take part in activities.” from the report
Improved management checks
The management team used daily, weekly and monthly checks, audits and action plans. Inspectors found improvements since the previous inspection.
“At this inspection we found improvements had been made.” from the report
Some care records were incomplete
needs fixingSome supplementary records did not show that care had been provided, including records about applying gel, food and drink, and personal care. The manager said staff would be reminded to complete the paperwork.
“We did note not everyone's supplementary records had been kept up to date.” from the report
Possible delays when staff are off sick
needs fixingPeople generally felt there were enough staff, but reported that last-minute sickness could cause shortages. One person waited about ten minutes for a call bell to be answered, and the manager said this would be investigated.
“Sometimes there is a shortage because people go off sick at the last minute.” from the report
- 01How do you make sure supplementary care records are completed for every person, especially for food, drink, personal care and prescribed treatments?
- 02What staffing cover is arranged when someone calls in sick at short notice?
- 03How quickly are call bells normally answered, and what action was taken after the delay found during the inspection?
- 04How are medicines checked under the electronic medicines system, including medicines given as needed?
- 05What activities and support are available for a person with dementia who prefers one-to-one time or particular interests?
This was an unannounced inspection of the whole service, including the premises and care, and all five CQC questions were rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 July 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 Eckington Court Nursing Home
3 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- April 2020Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Eckington Court Nursing Home →
- July 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Eckington Court Nursing Home →
- January 2017Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2016
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 8 June 2016.
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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