CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Nightingale Court Care Home
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
What inspectors found, July 2023
Rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found kind care, but risks, medicines records and quality systems needed improvement.
This was the home's first inspection. It was unannounced and took place on 23 and 26 May 2023. Inspectors spoke with people, relatives and staff, and reviewed care, medicines, staff and management records.
The main concern was safety. Some health risks were not properly assessed, monitored or reduced. These included risks linked to swallowing unsafe items, dehydration, constipation, flammable creams and moving equipment. Medicines records also had gaps, although people were receiving their medicines as prescribed.
Inspectors found kind and respectful care, good support with food and healthcare, and a range of activities. However, the environment was not fully suitable for people living with dementia, some people in their rooms did not have enough documented meaningful activity, and quality checks had not found all the problems. The provider must send an action plan and progress will be monitored.
Safeguarding
The home had systems to protect people from abuse. Staff had safeguarding training and knew how to raise concerns.
“People were protected from the risk of abuse because the provider had effective safeguarding systems in place.” from the report
Food and nutrition
People's dietary needs and preferences were supported. Weights were monitored and action was taken when people lost weight.
“People's dietary needs were met. They were provided with a nutritious and balanced diet that met their needs and preferences.” from the report
Choice and dignity
People were supported to make day-to-day choices and to remain as independent as possible. Their privacy and dignity were respected.
“People were treated with dignity and respect and their privacy was promoted.” from the report
Working with professionals
The home worked with healthcare and social care professionals, including when people's health needs changed or they went to hospital.
“People were referred to other health and social care professionals as needed.” from the report
Unmanaged health and safety risks
seriousSome risks were not assessed or monitored well enough. This included risks related to unsafe items, dehydration, constipation, flammable creams and moving equipment.
“Risks to people's safety had not always been safely managed.” from the report
Incomplete medicines records
needs fixingSome medicines administration records had gaps, with no reason recorded for missed signatures. Some as-required medicines also lacked sufficiently detailed guidance.
“There were gaps on medicines administration records (MARs) where staff had not signed, and no reason was recorded for omission.” from the report
Dementia-friendly environment
needs fixingThe home lacked enough signs, contrasting colours and landmarks to help people living with dementia find their way and recognise their rooms.
“There was a lack of dementia friendly signage, contrasting colours, themes and landmarks to help people orientate themselves around the home.” from the report
Activities for people in their rooms
needs fixingStaff said they spent time with people individually, but records did not show how much stimulation and occupation some people received.
“Due to a lack of documentation, it could not be evidenced how much stimulation and occupation was available for these people.” from the report
Quality checks
needs fixingThe provider's audits did not identify all the concerns found by inspectors or drive enough improvement in risk management, records and the environment.
“These had not always been fully effective in identifying all the concerns we found or driving the necessary improvement.” from the report
- 01What changes have been made to assess and monitor risks such as dehydration, constipation, unsafe items, flammable creams and moving equipment?
- 02How are medicines administration records and as-required medicines protocols checked now?
- 03What dementia-friendly changes have been made to signs, colours, landmarks and bedroom doors?
- 04How are meaningful activities planned and recorded for people who spend most of their time in their rooms?
- 05How do the provider's audits now make sure problems are found and improvements are sustained?
This was the first comprehensive inspection of the newly registered home, covering all five rating areas and prompted in part by concerns about safe care and treatment. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 July 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.
Every inspection of Nightingale Court Care Home
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- July 2023Requires improvementcurrent ratingSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- February 2022
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 21 February 2022.
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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26 live-in carers within about an hour of Hampshire
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 £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 23 can care for a couple. 14 years' experience on average.
“I cannot recommend Prisca highly enough, she is one in a million.”
“He stayed with her throughout the pandemic, refusing to visit his own family, who lived nearby, to reduce the risk of infection.”
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.