CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Elton House Care Home
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 reviewed visitors, admissions, PPE, testing, cleaning, hygiene, social distancing and outbreak management.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not rated or assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not rated or assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- This area was not rated or assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This area was not rated or assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, November 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control arrangements were in place.
The CQC carried out an announced, targeted inspection on 12 November 2020. It looked only at infection prevention and control because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Inspectors were assured that the home was managing visitors, shielding, social distancing, admissions, PPE, testing, cleaning and possible outbreaks. Staff had received infection control training, and infection control checks and audits were taking place.
The home supported people's social and emotional wellbeing during lockdown. Visitors were restricted at the time, but people could speak with friends and relatives and activities had been arranged inside the home.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the visit did not provide a new overall rating or full ratings for all five areas of care.
Infection control training
Staff had training in PPE, hand hygiene and other coronavirus-related infection control. Infection control leads monitored staff practice.
“Staff had undertaken training in putting on and taking off PPE, hand hygiene and other COVID-19 related training.” from the report
Cleaning and hygiene
The home was carrying out extra cleaning, including cleaning frequently touched surfaces. Inspectors were assured about the layout and hygiene of the premises.
“Additional cleaning of all areas and frequent touch surfaces was being carried out.” from the report
Managing infection risks
Inspectors were assured that the home was managing visitors, admissions, PPE, testing and possible outbreaks safely.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Support during lockdown
The home arranged activities and helped people keep in touch with friends and relatives while visits were restricted.
“Staff supported people's social and emotional wellbeing.” from the report
Approach still being developed
minorThe CQC signposted the provider to resources to develop its approach. The report does not say what specific issue this related to.
“We have also signposted the provider to resources to develop their approach.” from the report
- 01What infection prevention and control arrangements are in place now, and how have they changed since the November 2020 inspection?
- 02How do you currently manage visits from relatives, including testing, PPE and social distancing?
- 03How often are infection control audits and checks carried out, and what happens when they identify a problem?
- 04What arrangements are used when someone moves into the home or when there is a suspected infection outbreak?
- 05What did the CQC signposting to resources relate to, and what action did the home take afterwards?
This was an announced, targeted inspection of infection prevention and control only; the service was inspected but not rated and the other care areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 25 November 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, November 2019
Rated Good overall, with Outstanding responsive care and some records and learning systems needing improvement.
This was the home’s first inspection since it registered. Inspectors visited without notice on 7 August 2019, reviewed records and observed care. They also gathered further information and spoke with people, relatives, staff and health professionals.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring and Well-led. It was rated Outstanding for Responsive. Inspectors found people were protected from harm, received their medicines safely, and were supported by trained staff who treated them with kindness and respect.
The strongest findings were about personalised care and activities. Staff learned about people’s past interests, helped them keep relationships and supported them sensitively at the end of life. Inspectors also found some medicines and care records were not always accurate or complete, although the manager acted when this was raised.
Relationships and community
People were supported to make friends and take part in the life of the home. Inspectors found this reduced loneliness and improved people’s wellbeing.
“People's well-being was significantly improved by the support for all to be active members of the home's community and develop meaningful relationships.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff understood people’s individual needs and supported them calmly and compassionately. They respected privacy, dignity and personal choices.
“Throughout the inspection we observed staff positively interacting with people in a kind and caring manner.” from the report
End of life support
People received sensitive support at the end of life. Staff had training and support for difficult conversations and helped people receive dignified care.
“People were supported sensitively and with compassion with end of life care, which ensured people experienced a comfortable, dignified and pain-free death.” from the report
Learning from incidents
needs fixingIncidents were reviewed, but not all staff knew the outcomes or took part in discussions. The report said the formal system for sharing lessons was not yet fully established.
“A formal system to include all staff was not yet fully embedded in practise.” from the report
Care plan information
needs fixingSome care plans did not contain enough information, including guidance about using a hoist and reviewing fluid targets. The manager took immediate action after inspectors raised this.
“We also found where care plans did not always contain sufficient information.” from the report
Medicines audit
needs fixingThe medicines audit did not identify some inaccurate recording. Inspectors said this did not affect the care people received, and the manager responded immediately.
“We identified the medicines audit had failed to highlight instances of a lack of accurate recording.” from the report
Food preferences
minorMost people were happy with the food and their dietary needs were met, but two people said they were unhappy with their meals.
“However, two people were not happy with their meals.” from the report
- 01How do you now make sure all staff are told about lessons from falls, incidents and other events?
- 02What changes have been made to ensure care plans contain clear guidance about hoist use and fluid targets?
- 03How are medicines records checked now, following the inspection finding about inaccurate recording?
- 04How do you respond when people are unhappy with the food, and how are their views used to change meals?
- 05How do you use feedback from online reviews, meetings and residents’ forums to improve the home?
This was an unannounced first comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions, with further evidence gathered after the main visit. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 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 Elton House Care Home
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- November 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- November 2019GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- September 2018
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 4 September 2018.
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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