CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Ellenborough Court
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control procedures were being followed. They found arrangements for cleaning, protective equipment, testing, social distancing and managing possible infections.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, March 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control measures were being followed.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 02 March 2021. It focused on how the home was prepared to prevent and control coronavirus infections.
Inspectors did not enter residents' flats. They found increased cleaning, regular sanitising of touch points, cleaning checklists and monitoring of staff use of protective equipment. Visitors had to book, wear a mask and complete a health questionnaire.
The home had arrangements for testing staff and residents, social distancing, managing hospital returns and keeping people in contact with family and friends. The home was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Cleaning and hygiene
Cleaning tasks had been increased, touch points were sanitised regularly and cleaning checklists had been introduced. The registered manager monitored cleanliness and staff practice.
“All touch points were regularly sanitised, and cleaning checklists had been introduced.” from the report
Protective equipment and testing
Staff and visitors had to follow protective equipment and hand hygiene procedures. Staff and residents were tested regularly for coronavirus.
“The support team had all completed on-line infection prevention and control training.” from the report
Visiting arrangements
Visitors had to book in advance, wear a face mask and complete a health questionnaire. The home also used extra testing arrangements where needed.
“All visitors had to pre-book their visit, had to wear a facemask and complete a health questionnaire.” from the report
Contact with families
People were supported to keep in touch with family and friends through letters, telephone calls and video calls. They could also go out into the community as required.
“People were supported to maintain contact with family and friends.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are cleaning checklists and staff compliance with protective equipment monitored now?
- 02What testing arrangements are currently in place for staff and residents?
- 03How would you manage a new admission or a resident returning from hospital?
- 04How can residents keep in contact with family and friends if visiting or activities are restricted?
- 05What are the current ratings for Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; the service was inspected but not rated overall and the other key questions were not assessed in this report. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 March 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 2018
Ellenborough Court was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised support, with no breaches reported.
Inspectors visited without notice on 24 June 2018. One inspector spoke with a person living at the home, three staff members and the registered manager. They reviewed care records, staff files, medicine records and management records, and contacted health and social care professionals afterwards.
The home supported five adults in individual flats. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, suitable risk assessments and safe medicines support. People were helped to make choices, manage daily life, access healthcare and take part in community activities.
Inspectors found staff to be kind, respectful and knowledgeable about people's needs. Support was personalised and people were involved in decisions about their care. The manager and staff team were described as open, supportive and focused on improvement.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. It had also been rated Good at the previous inspection, so the overall rating remained unchanged.
Safe medicines support
Inspectors found that people received medicines when needed and that staff were competent to give them. Medicine records and stock were checked every day.
“People received their medicines when they needed them from staff who were competent to provide this.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Staff knew people well and respected their privacy, beliefs and preferences. People were encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves.
“Staff were, "Very caring and understanding of people's wishes and needs.” from the report
Community involvement
People were supported to use local facilities and maintain relationships with family and friends. The home also supported personal ambitions and trips.
“People were actively supported to access their local community facilities such as the GP surgery, local shops, cafes, leisure centre and supermarkets.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The manager and staff completed regular checks covering care, staffing, recruitment, health and safety and the environment. Accidents and incidents were reviewed for patterns.
“There was an effective quality monitoring system in place to help drive continuous improvements to the care that people received.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you support my relative to make choices and communicate their wishes?
- 02How are medicines stored and administered, and what happens if my relative wants more independence with them?
- 03How do you make sure there are enough familiar staff if there are staff shortages?
- 04How would you support my relative to keep in contact with family and take part in community activities?
- 05How do you review care plans when a person's needs, goals or relationships change?
This was an unannounced inspection of the overall service and all five CQC rating areas, with the ratings remaining Good from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 August 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 Ellenborough Court
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- August 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 10 December 2010.
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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23 live-in carers within about an hour of North 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 £1,050 to £1,320 a week. 19 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
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.