CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Nova House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, January 2022
Nova House is rated Good; inspectors found kind, personalised care, with some creams records not always signed.
This was an unannounced inspection on 7 December 2021. Two inspectors spoke with seven people, one visiting family member and five staff. They also reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff files and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found people felt safe, staff were kind, care was personalised, and people were supported to make choices and stay in contact with loved ones.
There was one medicines recording shortfall. Staff gave people their prescribed creams, but these were not always signed for. Managers said they would introduce a separate chart immediately.
Personalised support
Care plans were detailed and reflected people's needs, preferences and routines. Staff responded when people's needs changed.
“Comprehensive assessments and care plans provided the basis of personalised care and provided the foundations to ensure that staff supported people safely” from the report
Kind relationships
People described staff positively, and inspectors saw warm, respectful relationships and good humour.
“Staff were kind and compassionate and people had relationships with them that were fun and inclusive.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were supported to make decisions about their care, meals, routines and appearance. Staff encouraged independence where possible.
“People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives” from the report
Family contact and activities
The home worked to support visits safely during the pandemic and continued activities such as bingo and quizzes.
“Despite this, it was evident staff had worked creatively to continue meaningful engagement with people.” from the report
Creams records
needs fixingAlthough people received their prescribed creams, staff did not always sign to confirm this. Managers said they would introduce a topical creams chart immediately.
“we found that whilst people were supported to receive their prescribed creams, these were not always signed for.” from the report
Staffing pressure
minorThere were mixed views about whether there were always enough staff, and the home regularly used temporary staff. Inspectors observed that people were supported and call bells were answered in good time.
“Despite staffing shortages across the sector making recruitment of new staff difficult, existing staff felt valued and were motivated and committed” from the report
- 01How is the new topical creams chart being completed and checked?
- 02How many temporary staff are currently being used, and how do you keep care consistent?
- 03How do you decide whether staffing levels are sufficient on each shift?
- 04How are people's care plans reviewed when their health or preferences change?
- 05How will you support visits, activities and family contact if infection restrictions change?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions and infection prevention and control; all five ratings remained Good from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 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, March 2021
Nova House: Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured the home had strong Covid-19 infection controls.
Inspectors visited the home on 23 February 2021. This was an announced, targeted inspection during the coronavirus pandemic.
They looked at infection prevention and control. They were assured that the home managed visitors, social distancing, admissions, PPE, testing, cleaning and outbreaks appropriately.
The home had experienced a Covid-19 outbreak earlier in the pandemic. Inspectors found that visiting arrangements, staff training, cleaning routines and communication with relatives were in place.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the visit did not provide an overall quality rating or a rated judgement for the usual five areas of care.
Infection controls
Inspectors were assured that the home was using PPE safely and had arrangements to prevent and manage infection outbreaks.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Cleaning
The home had general and Covid-19 cleaning routines. Frequently touched areas were cleaned several times each day.
“This ensured that all high reach areas and frequently touched areas for example, door handles and tabletops were cleaned several times every day.” from the report
Support for people with dementia
Staff explained PPE and social distancing to people living with dementia and offered reassurance.
“Staff spent time talking to people and reassuring them about the need for staff to wear personal protective equipment (PPE)” from the report
Contact with relatives
Relatives could visit in a separate ground-floor bedroom using PPE and safe distancing. Video calls and FaceTime were also used.
“Throughout the pandemic relatives were able to keep in touch using video calls and facetime messaging.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How many cleaners do you have now, and is there seven-day cleaning cover?
- 02What infection prevention and control arrangements are in place now?
- 03How do you manage visiting and contact with relatives?
- 04What testing, PPE and outbreak procedures are currently used for residents, staff and visitors?
- 05How do staff support people living with dementia to understand infection control measures?
This was an announced, targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; it did not rate the other areas of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 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.
Every inspection of Nova House
4 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- January 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 13 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.