CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Halsdown Nursing Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control, including PPE, testing, cleaning, social distancing, safe admissions and outbreak planning.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, February 2021
Halsdown Nursing Home: inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection prevention and control measures during the coronavirus pandemic.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 29 January 2021. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control measures as part of the CQC's response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The inspectors were assured that the home was managing visitors, social distancing, shielding, admissions, protective equipment and testing safely. They also found that the home had an up-to-date infection control policy and plans for preventing or managing outbreaks.
The home was clean and well maintained. Staff followed infection control procedures, cleaning was increased, and people were supported to keep in touch with their families.
This visit was not a full inspection and the service was not rated overall. The Safe area was inspected but not rated, and the report does not give ratings for the other areas.
Clean premises
The home was clean and well maintained. Cleaning schedules, regular deep cleans and cleaning of high-touch areas were in place.
“The premises were clean and well maintained. Additional cleaning schedules had been introduced since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.” from the report
Protective equipment
PPE was available around the home, and separate clinical waste bins and laundry arrangements supported safe disposal and cleaning.
“There were trollies stocked with personal protective equipment (PPE) stationed around the home and each person had their own clinical waste bin” from the report
Staff infection control
Staff had recent infection control training and inspectors saw them following the required procedures, including social distancing.
“All staff had received recent training in infection control and prevention (IPC) and were seen to be following correct IPC practices at all times” from the report
Family contact
Staff supported people to stay in contact with their families. A gazebo and screened area were available with a booking system to support visits and cleaning.
“Staff supported people to remain in contact with their families in line with government guidance.” from the report
Leadership and planning
The manager and providers were visible and sought advice from outside agencies. The home had a coronavirus contingency plan and an admission policy.
“There was a contingency plan informing staff how to manage Covid-19 and a robust admission policy.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have your infection prevention and control arrangements changed since the inspection on 29 January 2021?
- 02How often are staff and residents tested now, and what happens if someone has a positive result?
- 03How are visits currently arranged, and how are the gazebo or screened areas cleaned between visits?
- 04How do you manage new admissions and reduce the risk of infection when someone moves into the home?
- 05How do you check that staff continue to follow PPE, hand hygiene and social distancing procedures?
This was an announced, targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; it was not a full inspection and the service was not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 February 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 2018
Halsdown Nursing Home was rated Good overall, with Outstanding care and a hot water risk fixed immediately during the inspection.
This was a comprehensive inspection on 11 and 19 January 2018. The first visit was unannounced. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and health professionals. They reviewed care records, staff records, medicines, safety checks and quality monitoring.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Responsive and Well-led. It was rated Outstanding for Caring. Inspectors found kind, personal care, good support for people's health, detailed care plans, suitable activities and strong leadership.
Inspectors found that hot water at some hand wash basins was too hot. The home acted straightaway, fitted thermostatic valves the next day and changed its checks. Seven applications for legal safeguards had been submitted, but none had yet been assessed at the time of the inspection.
The overall Good rating was unchanged from the August 2015 inspection. There was no evidence of serious risks or concerns. This report was written in a shorter format because the rating had not changed.
End of life support
People were supported to have a comfortable and dignified death. Staff worked with hospice professionals and received specific end of life training.
“People were supported at the end of their life to have a comfortable, dignified and pain-free death.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
There were enough suitable staff, and people received their medicines safely and on time. Staff were trained and assessed for medicines work.
“There were sufficient numbers of suitable staff to keep people safe and meet their needs.” from the report
Personalised activities
The home offered group and individual activities based on people's interests and abilities. These supported social inclusion, confidence and mental alertness.
“People benefitted from a variety of daily group and personalised activities offered, which encouraged mental alertness, self-esteem and social inclusion.” from the report
Good leadership
Managers were visible and involved. Staff felt supported, and the home used audits, meetings and feedback to improve care.
“The service was well led, people received a consistently high standard of care.” from the report
Hot water was too hot
needs fixingChecks had not identified that water from some hand wash basins could cause a scalding risk. The home took immediate action and fitted thermostatic valves the next day.
“However, monthly checks of hot water temperatures showed the hot water temperatures in hand wash basins in people's rooms and bathrooms was too hot.” from the report
Safeguard applications awaiting assessment
minorSeven applications had been made to the local authority for people whose freedom needed legal safeguards. None had yet been assessed when inspectors visited.
“Seven applications had been submitted to the local authority DoLS team, where staff recognised those people had some restrictions to their liberty for their safety and in their best interest, although none had yet been assessed.” from the report
- 01What checks are now in place to make sure hot water remains within safe limits?
- 02What is the current position on the seven applications for legal safeguards, and have they now been assessed?
- 03How will you make sure my relative's care plan reflects their choices, communication needs and changing health?
- 04What end of life care training do staff receive, and how would you involve our family in decisions?
- 05How are medicines checked, including medicines given through a syringe driver?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions and the overall rating; the report says the rating was unchanged from August 2015. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 April 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 Halsdown Nursing Home
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- April 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 2 April 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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17 live-in carers within about an hour of Devon
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 £1,270 a week. 15 can care for a couple. 13 years' experience on average.
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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.