CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Falmouth House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, March 2022
Falmouth House: inspectors found good infection control and staffing measures, but the service was inspected but not rated.
This was a targeted inspection on 22 February 2022. It was announced the day before and focused on infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and any staffing pressures linked to COVID-19.
Inspectors found good practice. They were assured that the home was managing visitors, protective equipment, testing, cleaning, social distancing, admissions and infection outbreaks. The home was also meeting the COVID-19 vaccination requirement that applied at the time.
The home had nine people living there, with space for up to 10 people with mental health needs. Staff had encouraged hand gel use and mask wearing, there were no agency staff, and extra cleaning had been introduced. Two new showers had been installed and one unsuitable bathroom had been closed.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the visit did not give a quality rating for the home or a rated judgement across all five areas.
Infection control guidance
The registered manager kept up to date with changing national guidance and worked with outside partners to apply it consistently.
“The registered manager had worked hard to keep up to date with changing national guidance; they liaised with a range of external partners to ensure they were applying guidance consistently.” from the report
Continuity of staff
The home provided continuity for people and had not needed agency staff.
“Staff worked hard to provide high levels of continuity and the service had not used agency staff.” from the report
Cleaning and facilities
The home increased cleaning, including of frequently touched areas. It also installed two showers and closed a bathroom that was not fit for purpose.
“The provider had increased the amount of hours spent on cleaning to ensure they could complete additional cleaning duties, such as high touch areas.” from the report
Safe visiting
Inspectors were assured that the home was facilitating visits in line with the guidance in force at the time.
“The provider was facilitating visits for people living in the home in accordance with the current guidance.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection prevention and control arrangements are in place now, including cleaning of high-touch areas?
- 02How are visits currently arranged, and what rules apply to visitors and visiting professionals?
- 03How does the home manage staffing pressures, and is agency staff being used now?
- 04What is the current condition of the bathroom that was closed, and have the two new showers remained suitable?
- 05Can you provide any more recent inspection or rating information covering caring, effective, responsive and well-led care?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas were not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 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, October 2018
Falmouth House was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind care, but activities and some building records still needed attention.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 1 October 2018. Inspectors spoke with five people living in the home, staff, a relative, an advocate and health and social care professionals. They also reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff files, maintenance records and quality checks.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People said they felt safe and well cared for. Inspectors saw respectful staff, suitable staffing levels, safe medicines practices and care records that had improved since the previous inspection.
The home had improved from Requires Improvement at the August 2017 inspection. Person-centred care planning, the building and activities had improved. However, inspectors said activities still needed more work, some maintenance issues remained, and some checking records could be clearer.
People felt safe
People told inspectors they felt safe and well cared for. Staff understood safeguarding responsibilities, and staffing was planned in advance.
“People consistently told us they felt safe and well cared for.” from the report
Respectful care
People were treated with dignity and respect. Staff knew people's communication needs and supported their independence in the community.
“People were treated with dignity and respect and staff acted in line with the provider's expectations in this regard.” from the report
Improved care planning
Care planning had improved since the previous inspection. Most records included people's history, preferences and goals, with guidance for staff on how to provide support.
“At this inspection we found improvements had been made.” from the report
Good management oversight
Managers knew people well, supported staff and maintained checks on areas such as medicines and care planning. Staff morale was good and turnover was low.
“The culture was open and inclusive and the atmosphere homely and welcoming.” from the report
Some maintenance issues remained
minorThe building had improved, but toilets still needed regular maintenance and there was a blocked drain. Managers were relying on ad hoc repairs.
“The property is an old one and there were ongoing issues, such as toilets that required regular maintenance and a blocked drain.” from the report
Some checking records could be clearer
minorInspectors asked the home to improve how staff medicines competence checks and weekly health and safety checks were recorded, so the records showed more clearly what had been checked.
“We provided feedback regarding the means by which this check could be documented as, in its current form, it did not demonstrate what specific areas of competence staff had demonstrated.” from the report
- 01How often are activities and outings now provided, and how are each person's goals and interests recorded?
- 02What has been done to build links with local community groups and reduce the risk of social isolation?
- 03How are the ongoing toilet maintenance and drainage problems monitored and resolved?
- 04How do you now record staff medicines competence checks and weekly health and safety checks?
- 05What further refurbishment has been completed since this inspection?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions and the overall rating, including care, staffing, medicines, records, premises and management. This explanation was written from the published report of 30 October 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 Falmouth House
3 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- October 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2017Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
- September 2015GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 23 February 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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