CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Nunthorpe Hall
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control arrangements were being followed. They checked visitors, social distancing, admissions, protective equipment, testing, cleaning and outbreak management.
- Effective?
- Good
- Not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, December 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control.
The CQC visited the home on 30 November 2020. This was an announced, targeted inspection during a coronavirus outbreak. It looked only at infection prevention and control.
Inspectors were assured that the home managed visitors, shielding, social distancing, admissions, personal protective equipment, testing, cleaning and outbreaks safely. They found infection control policies were up to date.
Staff adapted care during the outbreak. They carried out extra checks, offered more drinks and snacks, supported people's contact with loved ones, and helped people stay active in the grounds.
The service was inspected but not rated. This report does not give an overall rating or ratings for the other care areas.
Infection control
The home reviewed all areas and used several measures to reduce the risk of infection spreading.
“Innovative approaches were used to manage the risks of cross infection. All aspects of the home had been reviewed.” from the report
Flexible support
Staff adapted care during the outbreak and carried out extra checks. They also encouraged people to have extra drinks and snacks.
“Staff went the extra mile for people. They were flexible to needs to people and care was adapted to manage a recent outbreak.” from the report
Cleaning and protective equipment
Inspectors found ongoing cleaning of frequently touched areas and robust cleaning arrangements.
“High risk touch points in the home were continually cleaned. Robust cleaning schedules were in place.” from the report
Communication support
The home developed communication cards for people who had difficulty communicating or found masks made communication harder.
“Communication cards had been developed for people who had limited communication skills or where masks were a barrier to communicating.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you currently prevent and manage infection outbreaks?
- 02How do you manage visits while keeping people safe from infection?
- 03How often are high-risk touch points cleaned, and how do you check this is done?
- 04How do you make sure staff use personal protective equipment correctly?
- 05How do you support people who have difficulty communicating when staff are wearing masks?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control only; the service was inspected but not rated and the other care areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 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.
What inspectors found, February 2020
Rated Outstanding; inspectors found exceptionally caring, personalised support, with all five areas rated Good or Outstanding.
This was an unannounced inspection on 4 February 2020. Inspectors spoke with 11 people, six relatives and 12 staff. They also observed care and checked care, medicines, staff and management records.
People and relatives gave very positive feedback. Inspectors found kind and patient staff who knew people well. Care was tailored to individual needs, risks were managed well, and people were supported to stay independent.
The home offered many activities, supported family and community links, and responded well to people's wishes. Staff training, healthcare support, meals, the building and medicines management were all found to be effective or safe.
The overall rating was Outstanding. Caring and Responsive were Outstanding, while Safe, Effective and Well-led were Good. The last published rating was Good in 2016. An inspection in 2018 was withdrawn because of an issue with some information gathered.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw staff respond quickly when people were distressed and support them with patience, dignity and compassion.
“Staff supported people in an exceptionally caring, attentive and patient manner and this was commented upon by people and relatives.” from the report
Personalised support
Staff knew people's histories, preferences and ways of communicating. Care plans helped staff support individual choices and independence.
“Staff used an in-depth awareness of each person to support them very well, both in terms of the care they needed and other things such as details about their families and interests.” from the report
Choice and activities
People could choose whether to join activities and were supported to continue interests, build relationships and take part in community links.
“There was an extensive advertised programme of individual and group activities and engagement with the community.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff to support people safely. Recruitment checks and systems for ordering, storing, giving and disposing of medicines were in place.
“There were sufficient staff on duty to support people safely and to attend to their personal and social care needs.” from the report
Good improvement systems
The home used audits, feedback and reviews of accidents and incidents to monitor quality and reduce risks.
“The governance and improvement agenda were firmly embedded into all areas to improve service provision.” from the report
New manager
minorThe manager had only been in post for a week and was still applying to register with CQC. Families may want to ask how the change in leadership is being managed.
“A manager was in post who had started working at the home the week prior to the inspection.” from the report
- 01How is the new manager's application to register with CQC progressing?
- 02How will you keep care plans updated as a person's needs, choices or communication change?
- 03Which activities and community links would be available for my relative, based on their interests and abilities?
- 04How are accidents, incidents and falls reviewed, and how are families told about any changes made?
- 05How would you involve my relative and our family in advance care planning and end-of-life decisions?
This was a planned, unannounced re-inspection covering all five CQC questions, with ratings given for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 February 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 Nunthorpe Hall
2 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- December 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- February 2020Outstandingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- July 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 23 May 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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35 live-in carers within about an hour of Middlesbrough
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 £1,230 a week. 31 can care for a couple. 9 years' experience on average.
“I found Alison to be kind , caring helpful concencious... Alison has a heart of gold”
“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.