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What the CQC found at Mont Calm Residential Home

Requires improvementpublished 25 July 2025, 14 months ago

Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.

The latest report, explained

What inspectors found, January 2021

Targeted infection-control inspection; the home remained rated Good overall, but this visit was not rated.

Inspectors made an unannounced visit on 8 December 2020. They carried out a targeted inspection because of coronavirus outbreaks in care homes. They looked only at infection prevention and control.

Inspectors found the home was clean and had suitable infection-control policies. People were monitored for COVID-19 symptoms, isolation was used effectively, and there was enough personal protective equipment. Staff were using and disposing of it safely.

The home was closed to visitors in line with government guidance at the time. Before this, it had arrangements for safer visiting. Care plans had been updated and medicines reviewed with support from health professionals.

This visit was recorded as inspected but not rated. The home's previous overall rating remained Good. Inspectors said the other areas would be assessed at the next comprehensive inspection.

What inspectors praised
  • Infection-control arrangements

    The home had an up-to-date infection-control policy and COVID-specific procedures. Inspectors found the home clean and cleaning schedules completed.

    “There was an up to date infection, prevention and control policy in place supported by COVID specific protocols.” from the report
  • Safe use of PPE

    There was enough personal protective equipment for current and expected demand. Staff used it correctly and disposed of it safely.

    “The service had an adequate supply of personal protective equipment to meet current and future demand.” from the report
  • Monitoring and isolation

    People were monitored for COVID-19 symptoms and isolation had been put in place effectively.

    “Isolation had been implemented effectively and people living in the service were monitored for symptoms of COVID-19.” from the report
  • Care and medicines reviewed

    Care plans were updated and medicines were reviewed with support from health professionals.

    “Care plans had been updated and medication reviewed to ensure people were receiving the most appropriate care and treatment.” from the report
What inspectors were concerned about

Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.

Questions to ask them, based on this report
  1. 01How are infection prevention and control procedures being maintained now?
  2. 02How do you manage visiting arrangements, including any risk assessments and protective equipment?
  3. 03How do you monitor people for infection symptoms and decide when isolation is needed?
  4. 04How do you make sure there is enough PPE and that staff use and dispose of it safely?
  5. 05How often are care plans and medicines reviewed with health professionals?

This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control only; the other key questions were not assessed and were due to be reviewed at the next comprehensive inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 January 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.

An earlier report, explained

What inspectors found, July 2019

Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with improvements since the previous inspection.

This was an unannounced inspection on 12 and 14 June 2019. The inspector and an expert by experience spoke with eight people, three relatives and six staff. They observed care and reviewed care plans, risk assessments, medicines records, staff recruitment files and quality checks.

The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People said they felt safe and were happy with the care. Inspectors saw kind interactions, enough trained staff, safe medicines practice and care that respected people's choices and independence.

The home had improved from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection, published in June 2018. The earlier breaches relating to nutrition and hydration, person-centred care and reporting to the CQC had been addressed, so the provider was no longer in breach.

What inspectors praised
  • Kind and respectful staff

    People spoke highly of the staff, and inspectors observed staff giving people time, attention and reassurance. Staff knew people's preferences and personal histories.

    “Staff knew people and their relatives well, including their likes, dislikes and personal histories.” from the report
  • Safe care and medicines

    Risks were individually assessed and reviewed. Inspectors found that medicines were administered safely and that staff had relevant training and competency checks.

    “People received their medicines safely as prescribed by their doctor.” from the report
  • Improved monitoring of food and drink

    The home had introduced more accurate fluid recording and regularly checked people's nutrition and hydration needs. Staff acted when concerns were found.

    “The registered manager had consulted with a health care professional to identify each persons' daily fluid target.” from the report
  • Personalised choices and activities

    People chose aspects of their daily care and were supported to take part in activities inside and outside the home. A garden coffee shop had been created following people's suggestions.

    “People were at the centre of their care and support, making choices about their lives.” from the report
  • Improvement since the last inspection

    The provider had acted on the previous inspection findings. The earlier breaches had been addressed and the ratings for Effective, Responsive and Well-led improved to Good.

    “At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.” from the report
What inspectors were concerned about

Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.

Questions to ask them, based on this report
  1. 01How do you calculate and review staffing levels if my relative's needs change?
  2. 02How will you monitor my relative's food and drink intake, and what action will you take if there is a concern?
  3. 03How often will my relative's care plan and risk assessments be reviewed?
  4. 04What activities would suit my relative's interests, communication needs and abilities?
  5. 05How will you record and respect my relative's wishes about end-of-life care?

This was an unannounced planned inspection that assessed all five CQC questions, following the previous Requires Improvement rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 July 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.

The story over the years

Every inspection of Mont Calm Residential Home

6 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Inadequate to Good.

  1. January 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent rating
    Safe: Inspected but not rated

    Read what inspectors found at Mont Calm Residential Home →

  2. July 2019Goodup from Requires improvement
    Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good

    Read what inspectors found at Mont Calm Residential Home →

  3. June 2018Requires improvementdown from Good
    Effective: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  4. May 2017Goodup from Requires improvement
    Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  5. April 2016Requires improvementup from Inadequate
    Safe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  6. July 2015Inadequatestayed Inadequate
    Safe: InadequateEffective: InadequateCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  7. April 2015Inadequate
    Safe: InadequateEffective: InadequateCaring: InadequateResponsive: InadequateWell-led: Inadequate

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  8. August 2014

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  9. September 2013

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  10. June 2013

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  11. November 2012

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  12. August 2012

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  13. June 2011

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  14. January 2011

    Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 13 January 2011.

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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