CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Featherton House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, April 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and safe arrangements for visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inspectors visited the home on 30 March 2021. This was an announced, targeted inspection focused on infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors were assured that the home managed visitors, admissions, PPE, testing, social distancing, hygiene and possible outbreaks safely. The home also had an up-to-date infection prevention and control policy.
The home used a visiting pod, supported video calls with relatives and had plans for different emergency situations. Staff received infection control training and regular COVID-19 testing took place.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give a full quality rating for the home.
Safe visits
The home had visitor procedures, including declarations and temperature checks, and introduced a visiting pod for safer contact.
“A visiting 'pod' was introduced to allow safe visits in a COVID-19 secure environment” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors found that the home had enough suitable PPE and that staff were trained to use it correctly.
“The provider ensured there was a sufficient stock of personal protective equipment (PPE) that met the quality standards.” from the report
Testing and planning
Regular COVID-19 testing took place for residents and staff. The home also had a contingency plan for different adverse situations.
“Regular testing for COVID-19 took place, for both people living at the service and the staff.” from the report
Family contact
The home helped residents keep in touch with relatives through video calls and bought a large portable screen to make calls easier to see.
“People were supported to maintain contact with families, this included using a technology.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What visitor checks and testing are in place now, and how often are the arrangements reviewed?
- 02How can residents keep in touch with relatives if visits are restricted?
- 03How do you check that staff are still using PPE and handwashing procedures correctly?
- 04How often are residents and staff tested for COVID-19 now?
- 05What would happen if there was an infection outbreak or staff shortage?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; the service was inspected but not rated and the other key questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 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, September 2017
Featherton House was rated Good overall, with Outstanding caring and inspectors finding people safe, supported and treated with dignity.
Inspectors visited without notice on 16 August 2017. They observed care, spoke with 13 people, seven relatives and staff, checked care and medicine records, and contacted health and social care professionals.
The home remained Good, as it was at the previous inspection in September 2015. All five areas were rated Good except caring, which was rated Outstanding.
Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practice, suitable training and support, and good access to health care, food, activities and outings. They also found a calm atmosphere, strong knowledge of people's lives and choices, and respect for privacy, dignity and independence.
Exceptionally caring support
Staff were described as compassionate and committed. Inspectors saw staff spending meaningful time with people and responding to their individual needs.
“The service remained exceptionally caring.” from the report
Personalised care
Staff used people's past lives and interests to plan individual experiences, including a visit from a donkey sanctuary and a museum trip.
“Staff knew what was important to people and they used this knowledge to enhance people's experiences.” from the report
Respect and independence
People's privacy and dignity were respected. Some people were supported to manage their own medicines or insulin and to go out independently.
“People were supported to be independent and the support they had was led by them.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs and found that medicines were stored and administered safely.
“People received their medicines as prescribed.” from the report
Good response to changing needs
The home updated care when people's needs changed. One person who was losing weight was given a high calorie diet and monitored until their weight returned to usual.
“People received support that met their needs.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How many staff are usually on duty now, and has the long-standing staff team changed since this inspection?
- 02How do you currently support people who want to manage their own medicines or insulin?
- 03How do you identify and respond when someone loses weight or has another sudden change in need?
- 04What activities and outings are available now, including individual options for people who do not enjoy group activities?
- 05What improvements were made to the external areas after people asked for changes?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five quality areas and the overall rating, using observations, discussions, records and feedback from external professionals. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 September 2017 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 Featherton House
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- September 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 24 March 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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