CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Hopton Cottage Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was using PPE safely, carrying out testing, managing visitors and keeping the premises clean. They were also assured that infection outbreaks could be prevented or managed.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- 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 COVID-19 infection prevention arrangements at the home.
Inspectors visited the home on 9 March 2021. This was an announced, targeted inspection during the COVID-19 pandemic. They looked at infection prevention and control, including PPE, testing, visiting, cleaning and shielding.
Inspectors found PPE was available and staff had been trained to use it. Visitors had temperature checks and, where entry was essential, lateral flow tests. People and staff received regular COVID-19 tests.
The home had increased cleaning, including of frequently touched surfaces. Inspectors also found ways for people to keep in touch with relatives and take part in activities while shielding. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give a full overall quality rating.
PPE and staff training
PPE was available around the home and staff had received training on infection control and PPE.
“All staff had received training in IPC and PPE in relation to COVID-19.” from the report
Contact with relatives
The home created a visiting room and supported contact through video calls, telephone calls and window visits.
“People were also supported to maintain regular contact with friends and family through video calls, telephone calls and visits at the window.” from the report
Testing and visitor checks
The home had a process for professional visitors, including temperature checks and lateral flow tests when entry was essential. People and staff were tested regularly.
“All visitors had their temperatures checked and were required to complete a lateral flow test if it was essential they entered the building.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home was very clean and that cleaning had increased, including for frequently touched surfaces.
“The home was very clean and cleaning processes had increased throughout the service including high touch surfaces.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have your visiting arrangements changed since this inspection?
- 02How do you now test people, staff and essential visitors for infections?
- 03How often do you audit PPE use, hand washing and cleaning, and can families see the results?
- 04What arrangements are in place to help residents keep in touch with relatives if indoor visits are restricted?
- 05Can you show us the home's most recent full CQC rating and explain what it covered?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, recorded under Safe but not rated; it was not a full inspection of all five quality areas. This explanation was written from the published report of 25 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, May 2019
Rated Good overall, with Outstanding responsive care, although some records and call-bell monitoring needed improvement.
This was a planned inspection on 6 and 12 February 2019. Inspectors reviewed care plans, staff records and quality checks. They spoke with residents, relatives, staff, managers and community professionals.
The home was rated Good for safe, effective and caring care, and for being well-led. It was rated Outstanding for responsive care. Inspectors found personalised support, varied activities, kind staff, safe medicines systems and good links with health professionals.
There were some shortfalls. Not all mental capacity and best-interest decisions were recorded. Call-bell records did not always match other care records, and one medicines fridge was briefly unlocked. The fridge issue was corrected during the inspection, and a new call-bell monitoring system was introduced after the visit.
Personalised activities
The home offered varied activities tailored to people's interests, abilities and emotional needs. These included exercise, outings, technology-based communication and an intergenerational programme.
“There were varied and innovative activities that incorporated the use of new technology and worked in collaboration with academic research.” from the report
Person-centred care
Care plans included detailed information about people's preferences, communication needs and desired outcomes. Staff knew people well and adapted support to them.
“Person centred care was embedded throughout the service and captured in care plans.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Residents, relatives and professionals described staff as caring and compassionate. People were supported to maintain their dignity and independence.
“All the staff spoke to us about the people they supported in a caring, respectful manner and it was clear they knew people well.” from the report
Good support for health and nutrition
People were supported with meals, drinks and access to healthcare professionals. Staff used professional advice in care plans.
“People who used the service received additional support when required for meeting their care and treatment needs.” from the report
Mental capacity records
needs fixingSome decisions about room sensors, covert medicines and locked bedroom doors did not have complete mental capacity or best-interest records. Inspectors recommended that the home follow best-practice guidance.
“Some mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions were in place, however not all best interest discussions had been recorded.” from the report
Call-bell monitoring
needs fixingCare appeared to be delivered in a timely way, but call-bell response records did not always match night-time care records. The home planned and then introduced a new system after the inspection.
“The call bell response records did not always tally with the night time care records.” from the report
- 01How are mental capacity assessments and best-interest decisions now recorded, especially for covert medicines, room sensors and locked bedroom doors?
- 02How does the new call-bell system record and check response times, particularly at night?
- 03How many staff vacancies are there now, and how often is agency cover being used?
- 04What checks are in place to ensure medicines fridges are locked and medicines are stored safely?
- 05How will you make sure activities continue to reflect my relative's interests, communication needs and abilities?
This was a planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the premises and care provided; inspectors reviewed seven care plans and spoke with residents, relatives, staff and professionals. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 May 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 Hopton Cottage Care Home
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- May 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- August 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2015
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 21 August 2015.
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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