CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Leazes Hall Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Leazes Hall Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection prevention and control arrangements.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 25 January 2022. It was carried out because of the CQC's reviews of care homes during COVID-19 outbreaks.
Inspectors looked mainly at infection prevention and control. They were assured that the home used protective equipment safely, supported testing, managed admissions, maintained hygiene and had an up-to-date infection control policy.
The home also supported contact between people and their relatives using technology. Inspectors asked about staffing pressures linked to COVID-19, but this inspection did not give an overall quality rating.
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had arrangements to prevent and manage infections, including outbreaks.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Protective equipment
Staff used suitable protective equipment, and the home had enough supplies.
“Staff wore appropriate PPE and the service had ample PPE supplies.” from the report
Cleaning
The home carried out additional cleaning, including regular cleaning of frequently touched surfaces.
“Additional cleaning of all areas and frequent touch surfaces was being carried out regularly.” from the report
Family contact
People and relatives were supported to stay in touch using technology.
“People and their relatives were supported to keep in contact using a range of technology.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you currently manage staffing pressures linked to COVID-19, and what effect do they have on people's care?
- 02How do you currently prevent and manage infection outbreaks?
- 03How often are frequently touched surfaces and other areas cleaned?
- 04How do you check staff and visiting professionals' vaccination status?
- 05How do you help residents keep in contact with their relatives when visits are restricted?
This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, with questions about COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it was not a full service rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 February 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, August 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some staff training and communication improvements still needed.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 8 August 2018. Inspectors also spoke with relatives and care professionals on 10 and 14 August. They spoke with people, relatives, staff and professionals, and checked care records, recruitment files and training records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found safe medicines practice, enough staff, clean surroundings, kind staff, personalised care plans and a range of activities.
The home had improved since the previous inspection in August 2017, when it was rated Requires Improvement and breached rules about medicines and quality checks. The new systems had helped bring the service back to Good.
There were still some areas to improve. Staff had not yet completed learning disability training, easy-read documents were not available, and three required notifications had initially not been sent to CQC. The notifications were sent during the inspection after the oversight was identified.
Safe medicines
Medicines were administered by staff who had been assessed as competent. Records and arrangements met the relevant guidance checked by inspectors.
“We found the administration of medicines in the service complied with the guidance published by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
People and relatives described staff as friendly and caring. Inspectors saw staff being patient, offering choices and protecting people's dignity and privacy.
“People, their relatives and other care professionals described staff to us as kind and caring.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans included people's needs, preferences and important personal information. Staff supported independence and involved people in everyday choices.
“This meant care plans were person centred.” from the report
Activities and relationships
People could choose from activities such as outings, music, crafts, puzzles and caring for animals. The home also supported contact with relatives and the wider community.
“People were supported to follow their own interests.” from the report
Improved quality monitoring
The home introduced new audits after the previous inspection. These identified problems and led to action, including repairing equipment.
“Since the last inspection the registered manager had introduced new auditing systems which showed areas for improvement had been identified and actions taken.” from the report
Learning disability training
needs fixingStaff had not completed learning disability training, despite some people living at the home having these needs. Training was being arranged as a priority.
“We noticed that staff had not completed training in learning disabilities despite a number of people who used the service having needs in this area.” from the report
Accessible information
minorThe home had large-print information and used pictures, but inspectors found no easy-read versions of documents.
“We found there were no easy read versions of documents available for people using the service.” from the report
Missed notifications
needs fixingThree notifications required by CQC had not initially been submitted. The manager sent them during the inspection, and inspectors said the appropriate actions had been taken to keep people safe.
“We found three notifications which had not been submitted to CQC but all appropriate actions had been carried out to keep people safe.” from the report
- 01Has all staff completed learning disability training, and how is the home checking that this training is suitable for the people living there?
- 02How do you provide care information and important documents in easy-read formats?
- 03What system is now used to make sure all required notifications are sent to CQC on time?
- 04How often are fire risk assessments reviewed, and has the review planned for August 2018 been completed?
- 05How are people's choices recorded and used when planning activities, meals and daily care?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, with follow-up conversations with relatives and care professionals on 10 and 14 August 2018. This explanation was written from the published report of 31 August 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 Leazes Hall Care Home
4 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- August 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2016Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvement
- April 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 13 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.
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47 live-in carers within about an hour of County Durham
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 £960 to £1,210 a week. 42 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in the night.”
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.