CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Neale Court
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, April 2022
Neale Court was inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong COVID-19 infection control and support for visiting.
This was an unannounced targeted inspection on 31 January 2022. It looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and whether COVID-19 staffing pressures were affecting the service.
Inspectors were assured that the home was managing infection risks well. They found visitor screening, testing, vaccination checks, suitable protective equipment, cleaning arrangements, staff training and plans for shielding and isolation.
The home supported visits from family and friends in line with government guidance. The inspection was not rated, so it does not provide an overall quality rating or a rated judgement about all aspects of care.
Visitor infection checks
Visitors were screened and checks were made before they entered the home.
“Visitors were screened before entry, a screening questionnaire was completed along with regular testing, temperature checks and COVID-19 vaccination status were confirmed before people entered the service.” from the report
Clean environment
The home had a cleaning programme and inspectors found it visibly clean and well maintained.
“There was a cleaning programme in place and the service was visibly clean and well maintained.” from the report
Staff infection control training
Staff had up-to-date training in infection control and in putting on and removing PPE.
“The provider had ensured staff were skilled in infection prevention and control (IPC) practices.” from the report
Family visiting
The home supported visits from relatives and used the essential care giver role. People said this had a positive effect on their well-being.
“The essential care giver role had been well utilised, and people told us this had a positive effect on their well-being.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you currently managing staffing pressures, and have they affected people's care?
- 02What are the current arrangements for family visits and essential care givers?
- 03How often are staff and residents tested for COVID-19?
- 04What happens if there is an infection outbreak, and how are people shielded or isolated?
- 05How do you check that staff and visiting professionals meet the COVID-19 vaccination requirements?
This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it was not a full inspection and the service was not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 2 April 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, December 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some concerns about tired communal areas and lift access.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 28 November 2019. One inspector spoke with six people and seven staff, reviewed three care records, all medicines records and other management documents, and considered further evidence after the visit.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People said they felt safe and happy, staff were kind, medicines were managed safely, and care was tailored to people's needs.
Inspectors found enough staff for safe care, suitable training and supervision, access to health professionals, a choice of activities and systems for listening to people and improving the service.
Kind, respectful staff
People gave very positive feedback about how staff treated them. Inspectors observed kind interactions and found that staff understood people's individual needs and preferences.
“Staff treated people with kindness and understanding.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans contained personal information and were reviewed regularly. People were involved in discussions about their care and staff adapted support to their wishes.
“People's care plans were comprehensive and included personalised information to support staff to deliver consistent person-centred care.” from the report
Safe medicines and staffing
Medicines were ordered, stored and given safely. Staffing levels had recently been increased and inspectors found enough staff to provide safe care.
“People's medicines were managed safely.” from the report
Good staff support
Staff received an induction, relevant training, regular supervision and annual appraisals. They said they felt supported in their roles.
“Staff felt supported in their role and received regular supervision and an annual appraisal.” from the report
Listening to people
People could give their views in meetings, surveys and conversations with staff. Inspectors saw evidence that people's views were recorded and acted on.
“We reviewed notes of residents meetings and saw a wide range of topics were discussed and peoples' views recorded and acted on.” from the report
Communal areas needed refurbishment
needs fixingThe furniture and decoration in shared areas showed wear. Refurbishment was on the manager's action plan, but no timescale had been agreed with the provider.
“The furniture in the lounge and dining area showed signs of wear and the décor was tired in places and in need of refurbishment.” from the report
Lift access
needs fixingThe lift had been out of action for about a week. Some people could not reach ground-floor facilities, and there was no timescale for installing the proposed stair lift.
“There had been a period of approximately a week when the lift had been out of action and some people were not able to access the ground floor facilities.” from the report
Activities coordinator vacancy
minorActivities had reduced slightly because the activities coordinator post was vacant. Staff helped cover activities, so there were still activities each day at the inspection.
“At the time of the inspection there was a vacancy for an activities coordinator and people said that as a result the number of activities had reduced slightly.” from the report
- 01What progress has been made with refurbishing the communal lounge and dining areas?
- 02What arrangements are in place for people who cannot use the stairs if the lift is out of action?
- 03Has the proposed stair lift been installed, and if not, when is this expected?
- 04Has the activities coordinator vacancy been filled, and what activities are currently available?
- 05How are staffing levels reviewed when people's needs or the number of incidents changes?
This was a planned, unannounced inspection that looked at the overall service and all five CQC questions, including care, records, medicines, staffing and management systems. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 December 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 Neale Court
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2015
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 30 October 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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9 live-in carers within about an hour of Lincolnshire
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.
8 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Martin was more than a carer, he managed the home and became my uncle's best friend, enriching his life during his last few years.”
“Magda was always positive and proactive about trying new things to keep dad busy. She also introduced new ideas for keeping dad healthy.”
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.