CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Fitzwilliam House Care Home
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was preventing and managing infection risks. This included the use of PPE, testing, cleaning, visitor controls, social distancing and safe admissions.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- 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 found strong infection-control arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 10 February 2021. Inspectors checked infection prevention and control arrangements because the home had been affected by coronavirus outbreaks.
Inspectors were assured that visitors, residents and staff were protected through screening, personal protective equipment, testing, cleaning and social distancing. Staff worked in set groups and did not mix between units.
The home was clean and staff had been trained to use protective equipment safely. The inspection did not give an overall quality rating, and the safe question was recorded as inspected but not rated.
Visitor precautions
Only essential visitors were being admitted. People entering had their temperature checked and wore full protective equipment.
“The service was only receiving essential visitors at the time of our inspection.” from the report
Protective equipment
Staff used full PPE with people who were COVID-19 positive or negative. Staff had training and practice in putting on, removing and disposing of PPE.
“All staff had received training in the use of PPE, and how to put it on, take it off and dispose of it safely.” from the report
Separate staff groups
Staff were allocated to set groups and did not mix between units. Kitchen staff used a separate entrance and did not mix with other staff.
“Staff worked in set groups in units known as 'cohorting' and did not mix between the units they were allocated to.” from the report
Clean environment
The building was clean and free from clutter. Communal areas were being cleaned, with frequently touched areas cleaned more often.
“The building was clean and free from clutter.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01Are essential visitors still the only visitors allowed, and what checks are now made when someone enters?
- 02How are staff grouped now, and do staff still avoid mixing between units?
- 03How often are frequently touched areas cleaned, and how is this checked?
- 04What infection-control arrangements are used when a new resident is admitted?
- 05How are residents supported to keep in contact with family while infection-control restrictions are in place?
This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control practices only; it did not provide a full overall quality rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 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, April 2019
Fitzwilliam House Care Home was rated Outstanding overall, with exceptionally caring, responsive and well-led services, while safety and effectiveness were rated Good.
Inspectors visited on 5 February 2019 without advance notice. They later received more information on 13 February. They observed care, spoke with people, relatives, staff and healthcare professionals, and checked care records, medicines records and management audits.
People were described as safe and well cared for. Staff knew people very well, respected their choices and supported their independence. Care was highly personal, with activities, food, rooms and routines adapted to individual preferences.
The home was rated Outstanding overall. Caring, Responsive and Well-led were rated Outstanding. Safe and Effective were rated Good, meaning the legal requirements were met and people's outcomes were consistently good.
The previous inspection, published in August 2016, rated the home Good. This inspection found that the overall service had improved to Outstanding. CQC said it would continue monitoring information about the home until its next visit.
Personalised care
Staff knew people well and shaped care around their individual preferences, histories and interests. People and relatives were involved in planning and reviewing care.
“The Fitzwilliam House staff team cared for people in a way that was truly responsive to people's individual needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
People described staff as kind, helpful and compassionate. Inspectors saw staff protecting privacy, offering choices and encouraging independence.
“Everyone we spoke with praised the staff for their exceptional kindness, caring and compassion.” from the report
Choice and involvement
People helped shape their care and the home itself. They could lead meetings, influence decisions and choose whether to join activities.
“Staff involved people, as much as they were able to be and wanted to be, in all decisions about their care and what went on in the home.” from the report
Strong leadership
Inspectors found committed leadership, regular staff support and detailed quality checks. The home also worked closely with healthcare professionals and the local community.
“The registered manager provided strong leadership and managed the home exceedingly well.” from the report
End-of-life support
The home discussed end-of-life wishes early, recorded them carefully and worked with health professionals to support people's choices. Relatives were also offered practical and emotional support.
“The team at Fitzwilliam House were exceptional at supporting people and their relatives both in planning for and at the end of the person's life.” from the report
Occasional waits for staff
minorTwo people said they sometimes had to wait for staff, although inspectors found enough staff on duty during the visit and most people and relatives were satisfied with staffing.
“Two people said sometimes they had to wait for staff, but one person also said, "Sometimes [staff come] very fast.” from the report
- 01How many staff are usually on duty for each shift, and how do you respond when someone is off sick?
- 02How would you learn and record my relative's routines, preferences, history and preferred type of staff?
- 03How are care plans reviewed with residents and relatives, and how quickly can they be changed?
- 04What activities could you offer based on my relative's interests, abilities and choice not to take part?
- 05How would you support my relative and our family if end-of-life care became necessary?
This was a planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the care provided and the home's premises; inspectors spoke with eight people, four relatives or friends, ten staff and two healthcare professionals, and reviewed two care records. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 April 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 Fitzwilliam House Care Home
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- April 2019Outstandingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- August 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 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.
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
17 live-in carers within about an hour of Cambridgeshire
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 £1,020 to £1,200 a week. 14 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.