CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Northbourne
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Northbourne was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good COVID-19 infection control and visiting arrangements.
This was a targeted inspection on 27 January 2022. It looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements, and whether staffing pressures were affecting people.
Inspectors found that the home had systems to monitor government guidance and its own policies. Staff understood the guidance, used protective equipment, and had access to testing. Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed.
People could leave the home to visit relatives or go into the local community. Relatives could visit in people's rooms, a visiting room or the communal garden. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Monitoring infection risks
Managers had a monitoring system to check that government guidance and the home's policies were being followed.
“The registered manager and deputy manager had proactively created an effective monitoring system in place to check that the service was following government guidance and the provider's own policies.” from the report
Staff knowledge
Staff understood the guidance and what visitors needed to do before entering the home.
“Staff were confident and knowledgeable about government guidance and what visitors were required to do prior to entering the service.” from the report
Visiting and community access
People were supported to visit relatives or access the local community. Relatives had several options for visiting.
“People were encouraged and supported to leave the service to visit relatives or access the local community.” from the report
Protective equipment
Staff had suitable protective equipment and received extra training about using it during the pandemic.
“Staff wore appropriate PPE and had access to this throughout the home.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection prevention and control arrangements are in place now, and how are they monitored?
- 02What are the current rules for relatives visiting, and can visits take place in rooms, communal areas and outside?
- 03How are staffing pressures currently affecting the people living in the home?
- 04What testing and protective equipment arrangements are currently used for staff, visitors and people living in the home?
- 05How are risks assessed when people leave the home to visit relatives or access the local community?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and staffing pressures; it did not provide a full service rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 February 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, December 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control arrangements during a targeted visit.
Inspectors visited the home on 25 November 2020. The visit was announced and focused only on infection prevention and control during the coronavirus response.
They found clear signs about hand hygiene and personal protective equipment. The home was very clean, frequently touched surfaces were cleaned more often, and furniture had been adjusted to support social distancing.
People could keep in touch with family by video or telephone. Inspectors were assured that the home was using protective equipment safely, arranging testing, managing outbreaks and following current infection control guidance.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give an overall quality rating or ratings for the other areas of care.
Infection control
Inspectors found appropriate arrangements to reduce the risk of visitors spreading infection.
“Appropriate measures were in place to prevent visitors from spreading infection.” from the report
Clean environment
The home was very clean, with extra cleaning of surfaces that people touched often.
“The environment was very clean, with enhanced cleaning taking place of frequently touched surfaces.” from the report
Family contact
People were supported to stay in contact with relatives by telephone or video call. The home was also developing safer ways to support visits.
“People were supported to keep in touch with their family members via video or telephone calls.” from the report
Staff guidance
Staff had received infection prevention training and were kept up to date with the latest guidance.
“The provider and registered manager ensured staff were kept up to date with the latest guidance.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you currently arranging visits safely and helping people keep in touch with their families?
- 02How often are frequently touched surfaces cleaned, and how do you check that this is done?
- 03How do you test people using the service and staff for infection?
- 04What would happen if there was an infection outbreak in the home?
- 05How do you make sure staff remain up to date with infection prevention guidance?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control under the Safe question; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 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 Northbourne
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2020Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2019Outstandingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- July 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 25 November 2010.
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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48 live-in carers within about an hour of Gateshead
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 £950 to £1,240 a week. 42 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in 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.