CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Elcombe House
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed, including through testing, personal protective equipment, hygiene, social distancing and safe visiting. The provider also said it had measures to manage COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Outstanding
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, March 2022
Elcombe House was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good COVID-19 infection controls and safe visiting arrangements.
The home supports up to 23 people, including people living with dementia or physical disabilities. There were 21 people living there when inspectors visited on 15 February 2022.
This was a targeted inspection focused on infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and any staffing pressures linked to COVID-19. The inspection was announced 24 hours in advance.
Inspectors found good practice. Visitors were screened, people and staff were tested regularly, staff used personal protective equipment correctly, and the home was clean. Visiting was supported through a visiting pod, telephone calls and video calls.
The home was inspected but not rated. This report does not provide an overall quality rating or a rated judgement for Safe.
Visitor screening
Visitors had to complete several checks before entering, including showing a negative lateral flow test, completing a COVID-19 questionnaire and having their temperature taken.
“All visitors were subject to a range of screening procedures, these included providing evidence of a negative lateral flow test (LFT), completing a COVID-19 questionnaire and having their temperature taken.” from the report
Use of protective equipment
Staff used personal protective equipment correctly, and equipment was available for visitors. Staff had also received training in its use and in infection prevention and control.
“Staff wore personal protective equipment (PPE) correctly. The care home provided PPE for all visitors to the site, ensuring that everyone was protected from the risk of cross contamination.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean, with no bad smells. Hand sanitiser and hand-washing facilities were available.
“The care home looked clean and there were no malodours.” from the report
Maintaining family contact
The home supported visits in line with COVID-19 guidance. When face-to-face visits could not happen, people could keep in touch by telephone and video calls.
“When face to face visits were not able to go ahead the service supported people to maintain contact with friends and family through use of the telephone and video calls.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection control and visiting arrangements are in place now, and how have they changed since the inspection?
- 02How are you currently managing staffing pressures linked to sickness or COVID-19?
- 03What are the home's current ratings for Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led?
- 04How do you support visits when face-to-face visits cannot take place?
- 05How do you check that staff and visiting professionals meet the current vaccination or exemption requirements?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it did not rate the overall service or the other four questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 March 2022 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, December 2019
Rated Outstanding overall; inspectors found exceptional, personalised care, with safety rated Good.
Inspectors visited on 05 and 07 November 2019 without announcing the visits. They spoke with seven people, three relatives, 11 staff members and two professionals. They observed care and reviewed care plans, staff records, medicines practice, audits and other records.
People and relatives described the care as exceptional. Inspectors found kind and respectful staff, personalised support, good activities and strong support for people's health, eating, drinking and independence. They also found enough staff, safe recruitment, good medicines support and a clean home.
The home was rated Outstanding overall. Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led were rated Outstanding. Safe was rated Good and stayed at the same level as the previous inspection. The other four areas improved from Good at the last inspection.
Personalised support
Staff took time to understand each person and adapted care to their preferences, communication needs and changing circumstances.
“People received incredibly personalised care because of the effort made to get to know them as individuals” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw caring interactions and found that people's dignity, privacy, independence and choices were given high importance.
“We observed exceedingly caring and respectful interactions between staff and people living at the service.” from the report
Good health outcomes
The report describes improvements in mobility, nutrition and falls prevention. Staff also worked closely with health and social care professionals.
“The number of falls for people who were at risk had reduced, people at risk of malnutrition had put on weight and were eating well and people did not have any pressure sores.” from the report
Meaningful activities
Activities were based on people's interests and included hobbies, entertainment, trips and adapted ways to take part in community life.
“People were constantly engaged in preferred activities which staff members knew they enjoyed throughout the day.” from the report
Strong leadership
The management team used audits, feedback and outside partnerships to improve care. Staff said they felt valued and involved.
“There was a positive, open and inclusive culture and atmosphere at the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you currently check that there are enough staff to spend meaningful time with residents?
- 02What changes have you made since the report about reducing falls and supporting people at risk of malnutrition?
- 03How are residents' preferred activities, hobbies and communication needs recorded and reviewed?
- 04How do residents and relatives currently give feedback, and what recent changes have been made because of it?
- 05How do you make sure care plans remain up to date when a person's needs or choices change?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five key questions, including care, premises, records, staffing, medicines and management systems. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 December 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 Elcombe House
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2019Outstandingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: OutstandingCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- May 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 21 January 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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88 live-in carers within about an hour of Bedford
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 £1,260 a week. 76 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
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