CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Northfield House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, January 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and safe visiting arrangements during a targeted COVID-19 inspection.
Inspectors visited the home on 18 January 2022. The visit was announced and focused on infection prevention, control measures, visiting arrangements and any COVID-19 staffing pressures.
Inspectors were assured that the home used PPE safely, followed testing and hygiene arrangements, managed visiting safely and had an up-to-date infection control policy. People were given information in videos and easy-read documents to help them understand COVID-19 safety.
This was not a full inspection of the quality of care. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating or ratings for most of the five areas.
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home met good infection prevention and control guidelines. Staff had training and used PPE appropriately.
“We were assured this service met good infection prevention and control guidelines.” from the report
Information for residents
People were given videos and easy-read information so they could understand COVID-19 risks and what they and staff needed to do.
“Videos and easy read documents about COVID-19 and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) were shared with people using the service so they could understand what they and the staff at the service needed to do to keep themselves safe.” from the report
Family contact
The home had arrangements for families and health professionals to visit safely. People were also encouraged to keep in touch using technology.
“There were arrangements in place for the visiting families and health professionals to safely visit people living at the service.” from the report
Up-to-date procedures
The home's COVID-19 risk management policies were described as thorough and current.
“Policies and procedures in relation to the management of risks associated with COVID-19 were thorough and up to date.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What measures are currently in place to manage staffing pressures linked to COVID-19 or other absences?
- 02How can families visit now, and what infection control steps or restrictions apply?
- 03How often are staff and residents tested, and what happens if there is an infection outbreak?
- 04How do you make sure all visiting professionals meet the current vaccination or exemption requirements?
- 05When was the home's last full inspection, and what ratings were given for the other areas of care?
This was an announced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 January 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, June 2018
Northfield House was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with one bathroom cabinet needing replacement.
This was an unannounced inspection on 01 May 2018. Two inspectors met most people living at the home and spoke with one person, staff, managers, relatives and a social care professional. They also observed care and checked care, medicine, recruitment and management records.
The home supported up to six people with learning disabilities or autism, and all six places were occupied. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicine systems, suitable training and good support with health, food, communication, activities and independence.
People were treated with kindness and respect. Staff knew people well and involved them in care planning and everyday choices. The home had meetings, surveys, complaints arrangements and regular checks on the quality of care.
The overall rating was Good, and each of the five areas was also rated Good. The home was rated Good in all areas at the previous inspection in January 2016, when no concerns were found.
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs. Medicine records matched what people had been prescribed, and staff were trained and assessed as competent.
“There were enough staff deployed to meet the needs of people and keep them safe.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff built positive relationships and knew people's likes, dislikes and preferred ways of receiving support. Inspectors saw people being offered choices and treated with dignity.
“People were cared for with kindness and compassion.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's preferences, communication needs, goals and important relationships. People were encouraged to make choices and remain as independent as possible.
“Care plans provided comprehensive information about how people wished to receive care and support.” from the report
Activities and community life
People were supported to attend day centres, clubs and activities linked to their interests. They could also help choose meals and take part in planning their support.
“People were supported to access the community and do the things they wanted to do.” from the report
Open management
Staff said they could raise concerns and make suggestions. Regular meetings and audits were used to monitor the service and act on issues.
“There was an open and transparent culture in the home.” from the report
Bathroom cabinet and flooring
needs fixingOne bathroom cabinet was worn, had peeling paint and was difficult to clean. Inspectors said this could create an infection control risk. The manager said it would be replaced and that bathroom flooring was also planned for replacement.
“However, we saw in one of the bathroom's a cabinet needed replacing as it was hard to clean as worn and had paint coming off which could be an infection control risk.” from the report
- 01Has the worn bathroom cabinet been replaced, and has the planned bathroom flooring work been completed?
- 02Has the new manager now become registered with CQC?
- 03How are staffing levels and one-to-one support arranged for each person during the day and overnight?
- 04How are people involved in reviewing their care plans and choosing activities, meals and support?
- 05How are communication passports and easy-read information used in day-to-day care?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, with the overall rating and each question rated Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 June 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 Northfield House
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- June 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 9 November 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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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.