CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at New Milton House Residential Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks were assessed and reviewed, staffing met people’s needs, medicines were managed safely and the environment was clean and well maintained.
- Effective?
- Good
- People’s health, dietary and social needs were assessed and reflected in care plans. Staff were trained, people could access health professionals, and legal safeguards were in date where needed.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and relatives described staff as kind, caring and professional. Staff supported privacy, dignity, independence and communication.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were personalised and reviewed monthly. The home provided activities, accessible information, support with relationships and interests, and appropriate end of life care.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found effective quality checks, timely action plans and supportive management. People, relatives and staff were invited to give feedback.
What inspectors found, May 2023
New Milton House Residential Care Home is rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with improvements since 2019.
One inspector visited the home without notice on 18 and 28 April 2023. They spoke with 5 people, 5 relatives and 17 staff. They reviewed care, risk and medicine records, staff files and management records, and observed care.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that people were safe, treated with kindness and dignity, and supported according to their needs and preferences.
Medicines, staffing, risk management, infection control and the environment were found to be safe. People’s nutritional needs were monitored, staff were trained, and people had access to activities and health professionals.
The previous rating was Requires Improvement, published in March 2019. Inspectors found improvements had been made and that the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Safe medicines
Medicine records were accurate and up to date. Staff who administered medicines had training and competency checks.
“Medication was safely managed, and those risks people faced in their daily lives were acknowledged and reviewed regularly.” from the report
Kind and dignified care
People were treated with patience, respect and kindness. Staff supported privacy and encouraged people to remain as independent as possible.
“Staff took time to talk to people in a patient and unhurried manner.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people’s health needs, communication needs, preferences, diets and activities. These plans were reviewed monthly.
“These were translated into care plans covering people's health and social needs, as well as individual preferences.” from the report
Good activities and communication
The home provided activities to reduce isolation and used pictures and signs to help people understand meals, activities and the building.
“Significant work had been done to ensure that information was accessible to people and included them in their care.” from the report
Improved since 2019
The home improved from Requires Improvement to Good overall. Inspectors said the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
“At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are medicines that are given only when needed recorded and reviewed for my relative?
- 02How will you keep reviewing my relative’s risks, care plan and nutritional needs?
- 03Which activities would suit my relative’s interests, communication needs and pace?
- 04How will my family be told if my relative’s health or care needs change?
- 05What improvements have been made since the previous Requires Improvement rating, and how are they being maintained?
The inspection covered all five key questions, the care provided and the premises, and included checks of infection prevention and control measures. This explanation was written from the published report of 20 May 2023 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, November 2020
Rated Requires Improvement overall; inspectors found safe, kind and well-led care, but two areas were not checked at this inspection.
Inspectors visited on 24 September 2020 and reviewed further information afterwards. They spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and health professionals. They also observed care and checked care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
Safe, Caring and Well-led were each rated Good. Inspectors found enough suitably trained staff, safe medicines systems, good infection control and effective safeguarding. People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect, and the management team had acted on problems found at the previous inspection.
The overall rating stayed at Requires Improvement. This was a focused inspection, so Effective and Responsive were not checked. Their previous ratings were used when calculating the overall rating.
Staffing improved
Inspectors found enough suitably skilled and experienced staff to meet people's needs safely and consistently. Recruitment checks were also completed before staff started work.
“There were enough suitably, skilled and experienced staff on duty to meet people's needs safely and consistently.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives praised the care. Staff promoted choice and independence and treated people with dignity and respect.
“Staff were seen to be consistently caring. Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect and, promoted people's choice.” from the report
Good infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had measures to prevent and manage infections, including COVID-19. They found effective use of protective equipment, testing and hygiene arrangements.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Management learned from the last inspection
The management team had acted on earlier problems. Inspectors found better staffing, training and care, supported by quality checks and partnership working.
“The management team had learned from issues identified during our previous inspection and had taken effective action to improve staffing levels, staff training and the standard of care provided.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What are the current ratings and evidence for Effective and Responsive, which were not reviewed in this inspection?
- 02How do you decide staffing numbers and the mix of skills for the people living here now?
- 03How are care plans reviewed with residents and relatives, and how are people's changing needs identified?
- 04What improvements have been made since this inspection, and how are they checked?
- 05How are relatives kept informed about care and visits during infection control restrictions?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Caring and Well-led; Effective and Responsive were not inspected and their previous ratings were carried forward into the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 November 2020 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 New Milton House Residential Care Home
4 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- May 2023Goodcurrent ratingup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at New Milton House Residential Care Home →
- November 2020Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: GoodCaring: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at New Milton House Residential Care Home →
- March 2019Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2018Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2017
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 30 October 2017.
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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Cheshire East
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 £980 to £1,260 a week. 88 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“She is an exemplary carer, she is knowledgable empathetic and very respectful in the home.”
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during 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.