CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at North Shore Nursing home
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors looked at risk assessment, safety management and infection control. They found enhanced risk controls and were assured that infection prevention measures were being used.
- Effective?
- Outstanding
- This area was not assessed during the targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Inspectors found respectful, person-centred care, attention to wellbeing and strong support for privacy, dignity and independence.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- This area was not assessed during the targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Inspectors found close management oversight, strong auditing and a leadership team focused on care quality and pandemic risks.
What inspectors found, June 2021
North Shore Nursing home: Targeted inspection found strong safety, caring and leadership arrangements, but the service was inspected and not rated.
This was an unannounced targeted inspection on 28 April 2021. One inspector spoke with three relatives, four staff and the registered manager. They also checked the building, care records, infection control arrangements and management audits.
The inspection followed concerns about risk assessments, people's privacy and dignity, quality checks and leadership. Inspectors found no evidence that people were at risk of harm. They were assured that infection prevention measures, including PPE, testing, social distancing and visiting arrangements, were in place.
Inspectors described care as highly person-centred, respectful and focused on people's wellbeing. They also found strong management oversight and skilled staff. This inspection did not give new ratings. Safe, caring and well-led were recorded as inspected but not rated, and the other areas were not assessed.
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had measures to prevent and manage infection, including safe visiting, testing, PPE, social distancing and hygiene arrangements.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Safety planning
The home had strengthened its risk assessments and control measures during the pandemic. Relatives said they felt their family members were safe.
“People's safety was at the heart of care delivery.” from the report
Respectful care
Staff were described as respectful and attentive to people's wellbeing. Inspectors found care focused on individual needs, equality and diversity.
“Staff engaged with individuals or small groups of people throughout our inspection, paying particularly attention to their wellbeing.” from the report
Strong oversight
Managers closely monitored care and service delivery. Auditing had been strengthened to include additional risks linked to the pandemic.
“The registered manager strengthened their excellent auditing system to retain clear oversight of additional risk caused by the pandemic.” from the report
Family contact
The home introduced large screens for virtual contact and electronic equipment to check visitors' temperature and identity before admission.
“They installed two large screens to maintain virtual contact between people and their families.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What risk assessments are in place for my relative, and how often are they reviewed?
- 02How are infection control, testing, PPE and visiting arrangements currently managed?
- 03How will you protect my relative's privacy, dignity and independence in everyday care?
- 04What activities are available, and how are they matched to each person's interests and wellbeing?
- 05How do managers check the quality of care and act on any concerns raised by families?
This was a targeted inspection of specific concerns within Safe, Caring and Well-led, including infection control; it did not assess the full key questions and did not change the previous ratings. This explanation was written from the published report of 2 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, May 2018
North Shore Nursing home was rated Outstanding; inspectors found exceptionally caring, effective and responsive support, with safety rated Good.
Inspectors visited without warning on 7 and 8 March 2018. They spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and a healthcare professional. They observed care, checked the building, reviewed seven care records and examined staff and safety records.
The home was rated Outstanding overall. Effective, caring, responsive and well-led were all rated Outstanding. Safe was rated Good. Inspectors found high staffing levels, detailed care planning, safe medicines practice and strong systems for understanding people's changing needs.
The home supports up to 25 people with dementia and/or physical disabilities. The report says the rating improved from Good at the previous inspection in October 2015.
High staffing levels
Inspectors found unusually high staffing levels and a good mix of skills. This meant people's needs could be met promptly.
“We observed exceptionally high staffing levels at North Shore ensured people's needs were attended to immediately.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans and supporting information gave staff detailed guidance about people's histories, preferences, communication and changing needs.
“A consistent and adaptive approach to care planning and treatment evaluation meant people had the best possible care from the start and throughout.” from the report
Compassionate staff
Inspectors saw staff communicate with patience, kindness and respect. People were supported with dignity and privacy.
“Staff interaction demonstrated high levels of patience, empathy and compassion.” from the report
Meaningful activities
Staff offered activities throughout the day, including one-to-one and small-group activities. These were changed when people lost interest.
“The provider maintained very high staffing levels to enable staff to chat with people and provide activities for long periods throughout the day.” from the report
End of life care
The home used detailed plans and regular reviews to reflect people's wishes and changing health near the end of life.
“End of life care ethos at the home was one of exceptional dedication, compassion and empathy, reinforced with technical expertise.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01Are staffing levels and the mix of nurses, managers and care staff still similar to those seen during the inspection?
- 02How are staff training, competency checks and supervision kept up to date?
- 03How are care plans updated when a person's dementia, communication, health or capacity changes?
- 04How are activities planned for people who have different interests, abilities or communication needs?
- 05How are medicines records, risk assessments and safeguarding concerns checked and reviewed?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five key questions and the overall quality of the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 25 May 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. The report was longer than we could read in one go; the later sections may not be reflected.
Every inspection of North Shore Nursing home
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- June 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not ratedCaring: Inspected but not ratedWell-led: Inspected but not rated
- May 2018Outstandingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: OutstandingCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- February 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2014Inspected but not rated
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 2 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
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32 live-in carers within about an hour of Blackpool
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 £1,250 a week. 31 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Thanks to Tracy, Dad was always immaculately dressed and clean, his meals were all home cooked and nutritionally well balanced and his home was always kept really clean and tidy.”
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during the night.”
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.