CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Gotton Manor
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Staffing and recruitment were suitable, infection control was effective and medicines were generally managed safely, although records for prescribed creams were not always complete.
- Effective?
- Requires improvement
- People's care and support did not always achieve good outcomes. Some people eating in their rooms did not receive enough support, and some long-term health conditions did not have care plans for staff to follow.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were kind, respectful and compassionate. People were offered choices, supported at their own pace and treated with dignity.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans recorded people's needs and wishes, and people were supported to keep in touch with family and friends. Social stimulation was limited for some people living with dementia, and some people wanted more activities.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The registered manager and provider were open and approachable. They used audits, investigations, meetings and an improvement plan to identify and address shortfalls.
What inspectors found, May 2022
Gotton Manor rated Good overall; inspectors found kind and safe care, but the Effective rating Requires Improvement.
Inspectors made an unannounced visit on 20 April 2022. They spoke with 13 people living at the home, a visitor and seven staff. They observed care and reviewed care plans, medicine records, recruitment files, meeting minutes and safety records.
People generally said they were happy and felt safe. Staff were kind, respectful and suitably trained. Staffing levels were adequate on the inspection day, medicines were mostly managed safely, and infection control arrangements were found to be suitable.
The main weaknesses were under the Effective question. Some people cared for in their rooms did not get enough help to eat well. People living with dementia had limited meaningful activities and social stimulation. Records for prescribed creams were not always complete, and some health conditions did not have care plans for staff to follow.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw friendly, compassionate interactions. People said staff listened to them, respected their choices and maintained their dignity.
“We saw kind and caring interactions throughout the day of inspection.” from the report
Safe staffing
The home reduced the number of people it accommodated and used agency staff to maintain safe staffing levels. Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's physical needs on the inspection day.
“On the day of the inspection there were adequate numbers of staff to meet people's physical needs and to keep them safe.” from the report
Good infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had suitable arrangements for preventing and managing infections, including the safe use of protective equipment and support for visitors.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Open management
People and staff found the manager approachable. The provider used audits and an improvement plan to monitor care and make changes.
“The provider and registered manager had systems to monitor the quality of care provided to people.” from the report
Support at the end of life
People could expect kind and compassionate end-of-life care. Nurses ensured appropriate care and medicines were available to keep people comfortable.
“People could be confident that at the end of their lives they would receive kind and compassionate care.” from the report
Help with meals
needs fixingPeople eating in their rooms were not always positioned well or supported to eat while food was hot. Food records were not detailed enough to show how much they had eaten.
“We observed that people in their rooms were not always in the best position to eat and did not have the support they needed to eat their meal whilst it was hot.” from the report
Limited dementia activities
needs fixingPeople living with dementia had limited meaningful occupation and social stimulation. Inspectors saw no staff interaction, music or entertainment in the small lounge during the visit.
“There was limited social stimulation for people in the area of the home which cared for people living with dementia.” from the report
Incomplete cream records
minorRecords showing when prescribed creams and lotions were applied were inconsistent. This made it difficult to monitor whether the treatment was effective.
“However, recording of the application of prescribed creams and lotions was not consistent.” from the report
Missing health care plans
needs fixingSome people with long-term health conditions, such as diabetes, did not have care plans explaining what staff should do. This could make it harder for staff to recognise when someone was becoming unwell.
“Where nurses were monitoring long term health conditions, such as diabetes, there were no care plans for staff to follow.” from the report
Care sometimes task-focused
needs fixingAlthough staff were kind, inspectors found that care was sometimes focused on completing tasks rather than spending time with people. Some people were cared for in bed without clear evidence that this was their choice.
“Although staff were extremely kind and caring when they helped people, care sometimes appeared task focussed rather than person centred.” from the report
- 01What has changed to make sure people who eat in their rooms are positioned safely and get enough help and encouragement with meals?
- 02What training and activities are now provided for people living with dementia?
- 03How do you record the application of prescribed creams and check that they are working?
- 04Which care plans are now in place for people with long-term conditions such as diabetes?
- 05How do you make sure people are supported to get out of bed or stay in bed according to their own documented choice?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five key questions and infection prevention and control; it was the first inspection since the current provider registered the service. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 May 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
Gotton Manor: inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 11 March 2021. It focused on infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors were assured that the home had measures for visitors, distancing, shielding, admissions, protective equipment, testing, cleaning and managing outbreaks. Visits were arranged in advance, and visitors were checked and tested before seeing relatives.
The home was inspected but not rated. This report does not give an overall rating or assess the other four areas of care.
Planned visits
Visits were arranged in advance, allowing time to clean areas between visits. Before restrictions were lifted, families could also see relatives safely through patio doors.
“Visits were pre-arranged which ensured there was time to clean areas in between each visit.” from the report
Infection control arrangements
Inspectors were assured that the home used protective equipment safely, provided testing and had arrangements to prevent and manage infection outbreaks.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Further development identified
minorThe CQC signposted the home to resources to develop its approach. The report does not explain what specific changes were needed.
“We have also signposted the provider to resources to develop their approach.” from the report
- 01What did the CQC signpost you to develop, and what action have you taken since the inspection?
- 02How are visitors currently checked and tested before seeing residents?
- 03How do you currently manage testing, protective equipment and possible infection outbreaks?
- 04What are the current arrangements for visits in residents' bedrooms and other areas?
- 05What ratings or inspections cover the other areas of care that this report did not assess?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control under Safe; the other four areas and an overall rating were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 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 Gotton Manor
3 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- May 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- May 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2020
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 7 September 2020.
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
76 live-in carers within about two hours of Somerset
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 £1,370 a week. 62 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“She looked after my mum, who can be incredibly challenging, so well and so gently, and we always felt confident that my mum was getting the best care available.”
“She was not phased by anything, she was adaptable, kind & gave us complete confidence to go away & not worry about a thing!”
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.