CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Newlands Nursing & Residential Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found safeguarding training, risk assessments, recruitment checks, medicines checks and infection control arrangements. They recommended continued review of staffing levels, and found some topical creams had not been returned to locked cabinets, which was corrected immediately.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused visit. The previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused visit. The previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused visit. The previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The registered manager was described as open and approachable, and staff felt supported to raise concerns. Audits, meetings, complaints investigations and an improvement plan were in place.
What inspectors found, May 2021
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, well-managed care, but staffing levels and management continuity needed attention.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 22 and 26 April 2021. Inspectors looked at Safe and Well-led because concerns had been raised about staffing, infection control and safeguarding. They spoke with people, relatives and staff, observed care, and checked care, medicines and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found safeguarding training, risk assessments, recruitment checks, medicines checks and infection control measures. Accidents, incidents and complaints were investigated, with action taken to reduce future risks.
There were some mixed views about staffing, and inspectors recommended that staffing levels continue to be reviewed. They also found some topical creams were not put back in locked cabinets, although this was corrected immediately. Well-led improved from Requires Improvement to Good since the previous inspection.
Safeguarding and risk checks
Staff completed safeguarding training and their understanding was checked. The home used risk assessments, falls meetings and audits to reduce risks.
“Safeguarding concerns were investigated, and appropriate action taken to reduce the risk of future occurrence which included additional risk assessments, checks and training.” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors were assured about the home's arrangements for preventing and managing infections, including the use of protective equipment and testing.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Supportive management
Staff said they could raise concerns with the manager and felt supported. Inspectors found that management checks and an improvement plan were being used to drive change.
“Staff morale had improved during the time the registered manager had been in post and staff told us they felt they had been supported to develop within their role.” from the report
Learning from problems
The home investigated accidents, incidents, safeguarding concerns and complaints. It took action to reduce the chance of problems happening again.
“The service took action to reduce future risk.” from the report
Staffing levels
needs fixingSome staff said there were not always enough staff and that they felt rushed. Inspectors recommended continued review of the staffing tool and other feedback.
“Some staff told us they felt there had not always been enough staff to support people and that they often felt rushed.” from the report
Topical creams
minorSome creams had not been returned to locked cabinets in people's bedrooms. The manager acted immediately when inspectors raised this.
“However, we found some examples where topical creams had not been returned to their lockable cabinet.” from the report
Management continuity
minorSome relatives were concerned about repeated management changes and a lack of continuity.
“Management changes a lot, there is no continuity.” from the report
- 01How do you currently assess staffing needs, and what has changed since inspectors recommended reviewing the dependency tool?
- 02How do you make sure topical creams are returned to locked storage after use?
- 03Who is managing the home now, and how are you providing continuity after the management changes mentioned by relatives?
- 04How are complaints and relatives' feedback recorded, investigated and followed up?
- 05What were the ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive at the previous comprehensive inspection?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings carried over from the previous comprehensive inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 May 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, December 2017
Rated Good overall after earlier special measures; inspectors found kind, safer care but the home was not yet consistently well-led.
This was an unannounced inspection on 23 and 24 October 2017. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, visitors and staff. They observed care, looked around the building and checked care records, medicines, staff files, training, rotas and quality checks.
The home had improved since earlier inspections, when it was rated Inadequate and placed in special measures. Inspectors found good arrangements for safety, care, nutrition, medicines, consent and personalised support. People were generally treated kindly and respectfully.
The overall rating was Good. Safe, Effective, Caring and Responsive were all rated Good. Well-led was rated Requires Improvement because the improvements in quality monitoring needed to be sustained and some issues, including staffing on one unit and activities, still needed attention.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw staff supporting people in a patient, friendly and respectful way. People appeared comfortable and well cared for.
“During our observations we saw staff interactions were friendly, patient and respectful.” from the report
Safer medicines systems
Medicines were safely received, stored, given and disposed of. The inspection found no discrepancies in a sample tablet count.
“We found a safe system for the receipt, storage, administration and disposal of medicines in place at the home.” from the report
Personal care planning
Care records contained people's needs, wishes and preferences. Risks were assessed and plans were updated when people's needs changed.
“Care plans were person centred and contained sufficient information about the current needs, wishes and preferences of people.” from the report
Clean and improved environment
The home was clean, uncluttered and well maintained. Communal areas had been refurbished and suitable aids and adaptations were available.
“When we looked around each unit, we saw that a high standard of cleanliness was maintained and clutter free.” from the report
Health and nutrition support
People received enough food and drink, with alternatives available. Staff contacted health professionals and supported people to attend appointments when needed.
“People were provided with enough food and drink throughout the day.” from the report
Staffing delays on Cedar unit
seriousInspectors found that enough staff were not always available on Cedar unit, especially at busy times. People and staff described delays with call bells, toileting, going to bed and getting out.
“Sufficient numbers of staff were not always available to support those people living on Cedar unit.” from the report
Fire risk actions still outstanding
needs fixingThe fire risk assessment identified several actions. These had not yet been completed when inspectors visited, although managers said they would address them within the required timescale.
“Remedial action was required in a number of areas.” from the report
Limited activities for some people
minorSome people wanted more trips, walks and individual activities. Managers were recruiting wellbeing coordinators and planned to introduce a wider programme.
“Some of the people we spoke with felt improvements could be made to the choice of activities offered.” from the report
Quality improvements needed to last
needs fixingNew systems for checking quality had been introduced, but inspectors wanted to see a sustained period of improvement before judging the service fully well-led.
“A period of sustained improvement was needed to will help demonstrate continued development and enhancement of the service.” from the report
Some records and agency checks needed follow-up
minorOne cream chart had a two-day gap. Some staff interview notes were missing, and information about agency nurses' current clinical training was not complete.
“Most of the records for the application of prescribed creams had been recorded and signed for daily by staff except for one chart that had a two day gap.” from the report
- 01How have staffing levels on Cedar unit changed since the inspection, particularly at shift changes, mornings, evenings and at night?
- 02Were all actions from the June 2017 fire risk assessment completed, and can you explain what was done?
- 03What activities, outings and one-to-one opportunities are now available, including for people cared for in bed?
- 04How do managers now check that improvements are sustained and that problems are acted on quickly?
- 05How do you check the training and clinical competence of agency nurses before they work at the home?
This was an unannounced inspection of the whole service and all five key questions, including the premises and care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 20 December 2017 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 report was longer than we could read in one go; the later sections may not be reflected.
Every inspection of Newlands Nursing & Residential Home
4 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Inadequate to Good.
- May 2021Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Newlands Nursing & Residential Home →
- December 2017Goodup from InadequateSafe: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
Read what inspectors found at Newlands Nursing & Residential Home →
- May 2017Inadequatestayed InadequateSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: InadequateWell-led: Inadequate
- December 2016InadequateSafe: Requires improvementEffective: InadequateCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 31 October 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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Most charge £980 to £1,260 a week. 88 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
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