CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Nicholas House Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- The home had safe recruitment systems and people said they felt safe. However, staffing rotas did not always reflect the number of staff identified as necessary for people's needs.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, October 2022
Nicholas House Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found safe recruitment, but staffing rotas did not always match people's assessed needs.
This was an unannounced targeted inspection on 28 September 2022. It looked only at staffing numbers and recruitment because of a specific concern.
Inspectors found that the home had a system for working out how many staff people needed. However, this was not always reflected in the staffing rotas. The home was asked to review how it records staffing levels.
Inspectors found safe recruitment systems. People said they felt safe and well looked after, and staff were seen treating people kindly.
The service was inspected but not rated at this visit. Its previous overall rating was Good, published in April 2022, and that rating remains unchanged because this inspection did not cover the whole service.
Safe recruitment
Inspectors found checks and systems were in place to recruit suitable staff.
“Safe recruitment processes were in place to ensure people were supported by suitable staff.” from the report
Kind care
People were positive about their care, and inspectors saw staff treating people with kindness and respect.
“We saw staff were kind and respectful, they spoke about people with affection and treated them with kindness.” from the report
Staffing records
needs fixingThe system for identifying staffing needs was not always reflected in the rotas. Inspectors recommended that the home review its processes.
“However, this was not always reflected and recorded in staffing rota's.” from the report
- 01How do you calculate the number of staff needed for each person's assessed needs?
- 02How do you check that the staffing rota matches those needs on every shift?
- 03What changes have you made following the recommendation about recording staffing levels?
- 04How do you respond if the planned staffing numbers cannot be provided?
- 05What checks are carried out to make sure new staff are recruited safely?
This was a targeted inspection of staffing and recruitment only; it did not assess the whole Safe question or the other four questions, so the previous ratings carry over. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 October 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, April 2022
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, person-centred care and improved medicines records, but there was no registered manager in post.
The inspection took place without notice on 22 March 2022. One inspector spoke with people, relatives and staff, and checked care records, medicines records, staff recruitment files and management records.
The home was rated Good overall. Inspectors found that medicines were managed safely, risks were recorded, staffing levels met people's needs and infection control arrangements were suitable. People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect.
Safe and Well-led were both rated Good. The other three question ratings were not inspected during this visit and carried over from the previous inspection. The overall rating improved from Requires Improvement after the home acted on earlier concerns about medicines records.
Safer medicines management
Medicines records had improved since the previous inspection. Staff had medicines training and competency checks, and audits were used to identify and address problems.
“At our last inspection we made a recommendation regarding record keeping in relation to medicines. Enough improvement had been made at this inspection.” from the report
People felt safe
People and relatives said they felt safe and were satisfied with the care. Staff understood safeguarding and knew how to report concerns.
“People told us they felt safe. One person said, "I feel safe here, the staff are lovely and caring.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well, respected their dignity and choices, and supported their independence.
“Staff cared for people with compassion and kindness and treated them with dignity and respect, their independence was promoted.” from the report
Good oversight
The provider and manager used audits, complaints, accidents and incidents to help improve the service. Care plans and risk assessments were reviewed regularly.
“Systems were in place to measure the quality of the service and support continuous improvement.” from the report
Manager not yet registered
needs fixingThere was no registered manager at the time of the inspection. The manager had started the registration process, so families may wish to check its progress.
“At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post.” from the report
Limited questionnaire response
minorThe provider asked people, relatives and professionals for their views, but received little response. Inspectors did receive positive feedback from relatives they spoke with.
“However, the provider had received little response.” from the report
- 01Has the manager now completed the CQC registration process?
- 02How are medicines records checked now, and what happens if an audit finds a problem?
- 03How are people's views collected when questionnaire responses are low?
- 04How often are care plans and risk assessments reviewed and updated?
- 05How are accidents, incidents, complaints and safeguarding concerns used to improve care?
This was an unannounced follow-up inspection focused on Safe and Well-led, with infection prevention and control also checked; the other three question ratings carried over from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 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.
Every inspection of Nicholas House Care Home
6 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- October 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- April 2022Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2021Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- December 2020Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2020Inadequatedown from Requires improvementSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- July 2019Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 11 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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32 live-in carers within about an hour of North 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.
Most charge £980 to £1,300 a week. 29 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“What truly stands out is how mindful and attentive she is to all of my medical needs, always going above and beyond to ensure I’m comfortable and well cared for.”
“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.”
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.