CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Firtree House Nursing Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Firtree House Nursing Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection-control arrangements during the COVID-19 review.
Inspectors visited on 9 February 2022. This was an announced, targeted inspection focused on infection prevention and control, including how the home was managing staffing pressures linked to COVID-19.
Inspectors found the home was clean and well maintained. They were assured that visitors, admissions, testing, protective equipment, cleaning, social distancing and infection outbreaks were being managed safely.
Staff had recent infection-control training and were observed following the correct procedures. Visiting followed government guidance, and families were updated when the guidance changed.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give a full quality rating for the home. It records the findings from this specific infection-control review.
Clean premises
The home was clean and well maintained. Extra cleaning schedules had been introduced, including cleaning high-touch areas throughout the day.
“The premises were clean and well maintained.” from the report
Staff infection-control practice
Staff had recent infection-control training and inspectors saw them following the correct procedures.
“All staff had received recent training in infection prevention and control (IPC) and were seen to be following correct IPC practices at all times.” from the report
Safe visiting
Families could visit in line with government guidance. The home used measures such as testing before entry and a separate entrance.
“People were supported by staff to see their family members in a COVID-safe way” from the report
Leadership and guidance
The manager accepted advice from external organisations. Two infection-control leads shared policy updates with staff and families.
“There were two designated IPC leads who shared all current government policy updates with staff and family members.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you currently managing staffing pressures, and have these affected people's care?
- 02What infection-control training have staff received since this inspection?
- 03How do you currently manage testing, protective equipment and visiting?
- 04How are families told when visiting guidance changes?
- 05How do you ensure visiting professionals meet the COVID-19 vaccination requirement or have an exemption?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, with questions about staffing pressures; it was not a full inspection and the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 February 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, August 2018
Firtree House Nursing Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and well-organised care, with earlier problems dealt with under new management.
This was an unannounced, routine comprehensive inspection on 31 May 2018. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and commissioners. They observed care and checked care plans, medicines records, recruitment files and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough permanent staff, safe medicines practice, good cleanliness, suitable training and access to healthcare. People were treated kindly and with respect, and their care plans reflected their needs and preferences.
This was the first inspection after a new provider took over and registered the home. The home had previously been rated Requires Improvement under the former provider. Inspectors said the earlier concerns had been dealt with and that the new management had made major improvements.
Earlier problems addressed
The inspection found that concerns identified under the previous provider had been dealt with after the change in management.
“During this inspection we found that the concerns identified at our previous inspection under the previous provider had been dealt with.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff spent time with people, understood their histories and preferences, and supported their privacy, dignity and independence.
“Staff demonstrated respect for people's privacy and dignity throughout the inspection.” from the report
Quality monitoring
Regular checks covered areas such as medicines, infection control and health and safety. Actions were recorded and followed up.
“Quality assurance checks were effective at ensuring the home was following best practice.” from the report
Limited communal space
minorInspectors said space was limited and the main lounge and dining area was narrow. The provider had a plan for refurbishment, so families may want to ask what has changed since the inspection.
“The structural layout of the home meant that the main lounge and dining area was narrow.” from the report
- 01What improvements have been made to the narrow lounge and dining area since the May 2018 inspection?
- 02How do you calculate staffing levels for people with changing care and nursing needs?
- 03How are activities reviewed to make sure they continue to match each person's interests?
- 04How would you support my relative at the end of life, including access to specialist palliative care?
- 05How are relatives involved in care plan reviews and decisions about care?
This was a routine comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions, but no one was receiving end-of-life care during the visit. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 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 Firtree House Nursing Home
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- August 2018GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2018
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 17 April 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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
77 live-in carers within about an hour of Surrey
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 £980 to £1,250 a week. 66 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Without his support we wouldn't have been able to navigate bringing and keeping Dad at home.”
“Not only has she looked after him beautifully, she has also been great company for him with lively conversation, kindness and humour.”
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.