CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Normanhurst Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, March 2021
Normanhurst Care Home: Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control arrangements, with a problem about some clinical waste bins.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 15 March 2021. It looked at how the home was preventing and controlling COVID-19 infections. The home was caring for 50 people, with space for up to 75.
Inspectors were assured about visitors, social distancing, admissions, PPE, testing, managing outbreaks and the infection control policy. They found the premises clean and hygienic, and saw cleaning schedules for frequently touched surfaces.
Inspectors were only somewhat assured about the layout and hygiene arrangements. Some clinical waste bins did not have foot pedals, so staff had to touch them when disposing of used PPE. The manager said replacement bins would be bought, and the issue was addressed immediately.
The service was inspected but not rated. This was not a full assessment of the home or its overall quality.
Clean premises
The home had a housekeeping team and a cleaning schedule that included frequently touched surfaces.
“The premises was clean and hygienic and there was a designated housekeeping team.” from the report
PPE arrangements
Staff wore PPE in line with guidance and had training in putting it on and taking it off safely.
“Staff were wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) in line with government guidance.” from the report
Visits and contact
The home supported visits, including visits at the end of life, and helped people use video calls when visits were not possible.
“People were able to receive visits from their loved ones.” from the report
Family updates
Relatives and people living at the home were given updates through newsletters and contact from a COVID-19 team.
“The registered manager had kept relatives and people living at the home up to date with any changes through the home's newsletter.” from the report
Clinical waste bins
needs fixingNot all clinical waste bins had foot pedals. This meant staff had to touch some bin lids when disposing of used PPE, although the issue was addressed immediately.
“Clinical waste bins were not all foot pedal operated which meant that staff had to touch the bin in order to open the lid to dispose of used PPE.” from the report
- 01Have all the clinical waste bins without foot pedals now been replaced?
- 02How often are clinical waste bins emptied and cleaned?
- 03How do you check that staff continue to use PPE safely and follow infection control training?
- 04How are visits arranged, risk assessed and supported, including visits at the end of life?
- 05How will relatives be kept informed about changes to visiting guidance?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic; it did not provide ratings for the other key questions or an overall quality rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 March 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, November 2018
Normanhurst Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and responsive care, with improvements since the previous inspection.
Inspectors visited on 27 September and 2 October 2018 without announcing the visit. They observed care, spoke with 18 people, two relatives and nine staff, and checked care plans, medicines records, audits, rotas and other documents.
All five areas were rated Good: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines arrangements, suitable training, good food choices and support from health professionals when needed.
People were involved in their care plans and could choose how they spent their time. The home offered group and individual activities, welcomed visitors and had a complaints process.
The overall rating improved from Requires Improvement at the August 2017 inspection. Inspectors found that the quality assurance system and care planning process had been improved.
Improved oversight
The home had reviewed its quality checks and was using audits to identify and address problems. This helped resolve the issue that led to the previous Requires Improvement rating.
“The quality assurance system had been reviewed and areas for change had been identified and prioritised to drive improvement.” from the report
Personalised care
People helped write and review their care plans and decided how much support they wanted. Staff supported independence while managing risks.
“People were involved in writing and reviewing their care plans and decided with staff how much support they needed, based on their preferences.” from the report
Safe medicines
Medicines were stored securely, given by trained staff and checked through audits. People who wanted to manage some medicines themselves had risk assessments.
“Medicines were administered safely and administration records were up to date.” from the report
Activities and social life
People could choose from group activities, individual time and trips out. Visitors and relatives were welcomed, and activities were planned around people's interests.
“A variety of group and individual activities were arranged for people to participate in if they wished.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are care plans reviewed now when a person's health or support needs change?
- 02How do you check that medicines records remain complete and accurate on every shift?
- 03How many staff are normally available on each shift, and how do you cover sickness or vacancies?
- 04Which activities are currently available, including one-to-one activities for people who prefer not to join groups?
- 05How are relatives involved in care reviews and kept informed when there are concerns or changes?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions and the overall quality of the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 November 2018 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 Normanhurst Care Home
3 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- November 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- September 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 31 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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19 live-in carers within about an hour of East Sussex
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 £1,000 to £1,400 a week. 13 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“When he point blank refused to go into hospital for a life saving blood transfusion she talked him through the situation and agreed to go in the ambulance with him and stayed until he was settled.”
“Una felt safe, secure and loved in her time with Debbie which is a gift that I am eternally grateful for.”
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.