CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Newton House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found suitable staffing, risk assessments, safeguarding arrangements and infection control, although medicines times were not always recorded.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its rating came from the previous comprehensive inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its rating came from the previous comprehensive inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its rating came from the previous comprehensive inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found friendly and approachable leadership, effective audits and an open approach to feedback. Some care files were difficult to access and the new manager was applying for registration.
What inspectors found, June 2021
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, caring support, but medicines records and one garden needed improvement.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 27 April 2021. Inspectors looked only at Safe and Well-led because of concerns received about care and governance. They spoke with people, relatives and staff, and reviewed care, medicines, management and infection control records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, suitable safeguarding systems, reviewed risk assessments and good infection control during the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff supported people with kindness and involved other health professionals when needed.
There were some shortfalls. Staff did not always record the time when time-specific medicines were given. One garden had uneven paving, unsafe fencing and tripping hazards, so people could only use it with staff. The overall rating stayed Good, using previous ratings for the other areas.
Staffing and care
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's nursing and personal care needs. Staff were described as kind, caring and trained for their roles.
“There were enough staff on duty to ensure people's needs were met including nurses, care workers, activity co-ordinators and ancillary staff.” from the report
Safe support
Staff understood safeguarding and used care plans and risk assessments to manage people's needs. They involved health professionals when specialist support was needed.
“Staff assessed people's needs and put care plans and risk assessments in place to ensure they had the support they needed.” from the report
Activities and relationships
People had activities to choose from, including one-to-one sessions. Staff knew people well and responded sensitively to changes in their needs.
“There were lots of activities for people to take part in and we saw people enjoying one-to-one sessions with the activity co-ordinators.” from the report
Quality monitoring
Managers carried out regular audits, listened to people, relatives and staff, and acted on identified shortfalls.
“The audits were effective. Shortfalls in the service were identified and addressed.” from the report
Medicine recording
needs fixingThe time was not always recorded when time-specific medicines were given. Written instructions were sent to staff during the inspection.
“Staff had not always recorded the time these medicines were given.” from the report
Unsafe garden
needs fixingOne enclosed garden had access problems, uneven paving, unsafe fencing and trip hazards. This restricted access because people could use it only with staff.
“There were issues with access, uneven paving, unsafe fencing, and tripping hazards.” from the report
Care file access
minorCare documentation was up to date, but some handwriting was difficult to read and some files were overfilled, making them harder to access.
“Care documentation was up to date and comprehensive, however some staff members' handwriting was difficult to read, and some people's care files overfilled, which made them difficult to access.” from the report
- 01Have staff been consistently recording the times that time-specific medicines are given?
- 02Has the enclosed garden been repaired, including the uneven paving, fencing and tripping hazards?
- 03How is the new manager's CQC registration application progressing?
- 04How do you make sure care files remain readable and easy for staff to access?
- 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; Effective, Caring and Responsive were not inspected and their previous ratings were used for the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 June 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 2020
Newton House is rated Good; inspectors found safe, well-managed care, with an earlier staffing concern addressed.
This was an unannounced, focused inspection on 10 November 2020. Inspectors looked at infection control, staffing concerns, safety and how the home was managed. They spoke with people living there, relatives and staff, and checked care records, rotas, training and other records.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe and Well-led were both rated Good. People told inspectors they felt safe and were happy. Relatives were positive about the care and communication, including during lockdown. Inspectors found safe staffing levels, suitable risk assessments, safe medicines processes and strong infection control measures.
The inspection followed concerns about staffing and skill mix. Inspectors found no evidence that people were at risk of harm from this concern. They found that the manager and provider had acted quickly, and that staffing changes had improved the situation.
This was not a full inspection of all five areas of care. The ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive were carried forward from the previous comprehensive inspection. The overall Good rating did not change.
Infection control
The home had several measures to reduce the risk of infection entering or spreading. This included testing, isolation for new admissions, hand hygiene and masks.
“People were admitted safely into the service, with testing beforehand and a period of isolation once they had been admitted.” from the report
Safe care planning
Inspectors found clear risk assessments and prevention plans. Best-interest decisions were recorded where people could not make some decisions themselves.
“Risk assessments were comprehensive, with clear prevention plans in place.” from the report
Supportive leadership
Staff said they felt respected, valued and supported. Inspectors found managers were available, led by example and acted on staff views.
“Managers and team Leaders were available, consistent, and lead by example.” from the report
Previous staffing concern
needs fixingThe inspection followed concerns about staffing and skill mix and how this affected people's care needs. Inspectors found the issue had been addressed and found no evidence of harm during this inspection.
“When a concern had recently been identified about staffing and skill mix, the registered manager and the provider had worked well with partner agencies” from the report
- 01How do you currently check that staffing levels and skill mix are enough for the needs of people living here?
- 02What changes were made after the earlier staffing concern, and how do you know they are working?
- 03How are relatives kept informed if visiting arrangements change during an infection outbreak or lockdown?
- 04How do you support new residents with testing and isolation after admission?
- 05How are people's best-interest decisions recorded when they cannot consent to Covid testing or other care?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led, including infection control and staffing; the ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive were carried forward from the previous comprehensive inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 December 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 Newton House
5 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- June 2021Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: InadequateWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 February 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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
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.