CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Eldra Court
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed, including the use of PPE, testing, cleaning, visitor checks and outbreak planning.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, April 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about the home's COVID-19 infection-control arrangements.
This was a targeted, announced inspection on 23 March 2021. It looked only at infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors found that staff used the right protective equipment and had infection-control training. Visitors had health checks, testing and temperature checks before entering. The home also had testing, vaccination, cleaning schedules and an outbreak plan.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give a new overall rating or ratings for the other four questions.
Protective equipment
Staff were seen wearing the required protective equipment throughout the home and the inspection.
“Staff were observed wearing PPE throughout the building and throughout the inspection.” from the report
Visitor safety
Visitors had to declare their health status, provide contact details, take a rapid COVID-19 test and have their temperature checked.
“All visitors were only allowed into the home once they had declared their health status, provided their contact details, completed a rapid covid-19 test and had their temperature checked.” from the report
Family contact and activities
People were supported to visit family and to keep in touch by video and telephone. Staff also arranged walks, car rides and creative activities during lockdown.
“Staff also worked hard to be inventive in ways they could ensure people were still able to enjoy the activities they preferred which may have been restricted due to lockdown.” from the report
Clean environment
The home was clean and had schedules showing that frequently touched areas were cleaned regularly.
“The home was clean and there were cleaning schedules to show that high touch points were being cleaned on a regular basis to help keep people safe.” from the report
Further development suggested
minorCQC signposted the provider to resources to develop its approach. The report does not explain what specific improvement was needed.
“We have also signposted the provider to resources to develop their approach.” from the report
- 01What visitor health checks, testing and temperature checks are in place now?
- 02How are family visits and video or telephone contact supported if people cannot visit relatives?
- 03How often are high-touch areas cleaned, and how are those checks recorded?
- 04What infection-control PPE and cleaning competency checks do staff complete now?
- 05What resources did CQC signpost the home to, and what changes were made as a result?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control only; the service was inspected but not rated and the other key questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 April 2021 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, August 2019
Eldra Court was rated Good; inspectors found kind, person-centred care, safe staffing and strong support for choice and independence.
This was an unannounced inspection by one inspector on 15 July 2019. The inspector spoke with three people living at the home, six staff, three relatives and one healthcare professional. They observed care, reviewed three care plans, medicines records, staff files and other records.
The home supported seven people with learning disabilities. Inspectors found that people felt comfortable and secure. Staff understood people's needs and communication, supported healthy eating and healthcare, and helped people take part in activities, friendships and community life.
All five CQC areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This means inspectors found consistently good outcomes and no breaches of the regulations in this report. The previous inspection, published on 17 January 2017, had also rated the home Good.
Personalised support
Staff knew people well and supported their individual interests, routines and future goals. People and their families were involved in developing and reviewing care plans.
“Care plans had a high level of detail including what a good day looked like for an individual.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors observed staff being patient and attentive. Relatives also said staff were caring and respectful.
“People were treated with kindness and respect at all times.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were involved in decisions about their care, menus, surroundings and recruitment. Staff supported people to develop skills and use their own space and facilities.
“The culture of the service was one of assisting people to have maximum choice in their everyday lives.” from the report
Activities and community life
People took part in a wide range of activities, maintained relationships and accessed local shops, places of interest, meals out and holidays.
“People were supported to enjoy a wide range of activities both in and around the home as well as out in the community.” from the report
Skilled staff
Staff had training in general care and specialist areas relevant to the people living at the home. Staff also had regular supervision and many had, or were working towards, a level three diploma in care.
“To this end the training programme was comprehensive.” from the report
Safeguarding alerts
minorThere had been several safeguarding alerts in the previous 12 months. These involved minor altercations between people, and inspectors said staff took appropriate action to reduce further incidents.
“There had been several safeguarding alerts in the last 12 months.” from the report
Size of the home
minorThe home supported seven people and was larger than current best practice guidance. Inspectors said the building and its setting helped reduce any negative effect on people.
“This is larger than current best practice guidance.” from the report
- 01What were the minor altercations behind the safeguarding alerts, and what has changed to reduce the chance of them happening again?
- 02How will you make sure the home's size does not reduce people's privacy, choice or community involvement?
- 03How are people involved in reviewing their care plans and future wishes?
- 04How do staff support each person's communication needs, including the use of pictures, signing or communication aids?
- 05How do you check that medicines are stored safely and given on time?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the premises and the care provided; all five ratings were reviewed and remained Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 August 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 Eldra Court
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- August 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 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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17 live-in carers within about an hour of Devon
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 £1,270 a week. 15 can care for a couple. 13 years' experience on average.
“She is such a warm and gentle person while being professional and competent at the same time.”
“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.”
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.