CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Garth House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks were identified and managed, medicines were recorded safely, staffing was sufficient and infection control arrangements were effective.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found strong management oversight, regular audits, good communication and opportunities for people, relatives and staff to give feedback.
What inspectors found, September 2022
Rated Good overall; inspectors found safe care and strong management, but this was a focused inspection and the home did not have a registered manager in post.
Inspectors made an unannounced visit on 23 August 2022. They spoke with people, relatives, staff and professionals. They observed care and checked care plans, medicines, recruitment records, accidents, safeguarding and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. People said they felt safe and were happy. Inspectors found suitable staffing, safe medicines systems, appropriate support with eating and drinking, good infection control and action taken after accidents.
Inspectors found good communication with relatives and staff. The environment had improved since the previous inspection. A new manager had been recruited, but their application to register with CQC was still being processed.
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only. The ratings for the other areas were carried forward from the previous inspection, so the overall Good rating does not represent a fresh assessment of every aspect of care.
People felt safe
People and relatives told inspectors they felt safe. Staff had safeguarding training and concerns were reported and investigated.
“People said they felt safe living at Garth House.” from the report
Sufficient staff
Inspectors saw plenty of staff who were available and attentive. Call bells were answered promptly and people received help with meals.
“We observed plenty of staff around during the day and staff were available and attentive.” from the report
Safe medicines
Medicine records included identification and allergy information. As-needed medicines had guidance, and creams had body maps showing where they should be applied.
“These had been completed accurately by staff. Staff also stored and disposed of medicines safely.” from the report
Good management oversight
Managers used audits covering areas such as medicines, care plans, health and safety and pressure sores. Actions identified through audits were followed up.
“A range of audits took place to help ensure good governance arrangements within the service.” from the report
Improved environment
The report says the home had acted on an earlier recommendation about its environment. Rooms and shared areas appeared comfortable and well presented.
“We noticed at this inspection the environment was much improved.” from the report
Manager registration pending
needs fixingThere was no registered manager in post at the time of the inspection. A new manager had applied to register with CQC, but the application was still pending.
“At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post.” from the report
Fire system issues
needs fixingA recent safety engineer visit had identified some issues with the fire system. The home provided evidence that head office was addressing them.
“Following a recent safety engineer visit, some issues had been identified with the fire system.” from the report
- 01Has the manager's application to register with CQC been completed, and who is legally responsible for the home while it is pending?
- 02What specific issues were found with the fire system, and have all repairs and checks now been completed?
- 03What are the current ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive from the previous comprehensive inspection?
- 04How are care plans and medicines records checked while the home moves towards electronic records?
- 05How does the home use feedback from people and relatives to make changes, including the reported poor Wi-Fi reception?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led, including infection prevention and control; the other ratings carried over from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 September 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, April 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed, following a recent COVID-19 outbreak.
The inspection took place on 24 February 2021 and was announced. It was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control because the home had experienced a coronavirus outbreak.
Inspectors found an up-to-date infection control policy, regular audits, appropriate protective equipment and regular COVID-19 testing. They found the home clean and hygienic, with extra cleaning of frequently touched areas.
Inspectors were assured that visitors, new admissions and people who tested positive were managed safely. Families could not visit during the recent outbreak, although some window visits and phone or social media contact had taken place.
The service was recorded as inspected but not rated. This report does not provide ratings for the other areas of care.
Infection control policy
The home had an up-to-date infection control policy and carried out regular audits.
“There was an up to date infection control policy in place and regular audits were carried out.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean and hygienic. Extra cleaning included frequently touched areas.
“The service was clean and hygienic and additional cleaning schedules had been implemented since the beginning of the pandemic” from the report
Testing and protective equipment
Staff and residents had access to regular COVID-19 testing. Staff used protective equipment and were required to self-isolate if they had symptoms or tested positive.
“Staff had regular COVID-19 testing in line with Government guidance and staff were required to self-isolate if they displayed symptoms or tested positive.” from the report
Visiting was restricted
minorBecause of the recent COVID-19 outbreak, families could not visit in person at the time of the inspection. Some window visits and phone or social media contact had taken place.
“Due to a recent outbreak of COVID-19 at the service, people's families were unable to visit.” from the report
- 01What visiting arrangements are currently in place after the recent COVID-19 outbreak?
- 02How are residents and staff tested, and what happens if someone has symptoms or tests positive?
- 03How would a new resident be supported during the 14-day room isolation period described in the report?
- 04If in-person visits are restricted again, how will the home help residents keep in touch with their families?
This was a targeted, announced inspection of infection prevention and control practices 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 2 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.
Every inspection of Garth House
7 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- September 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2018Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- September 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- May 2017Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- December 2016Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 4 July 2013.
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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