CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Old Gates Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and risks relating to people and the premises were assessed. Inspectors found some topical and as-needed medicines records were incomplete, and recommended improvements to medicines systems.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff training records were up to date, and staff had the knowledge and skills needed to provide care. People's health, nutrition and communication needs were assessed and supported, including with help from outside professionals.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness and respect, while supporting their privacy, dignity and independence. People and relatives were involved in decisions and could share their views.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were detailed, personalised and reviewed regularly. People were supported with communication, activities, family relationships, complaints and end of life care.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had systems for monitoring quality and gathered feedback from people, relatives and staff. Inspectors found that medicines audits did not identify some incomplete monitoring records and recommended that the audit system be made more robust.
What inspectors found, March 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, personalised care, but raised concerns about staffing and medicines records.
Inspectors visited without warning on 20 and 21 February 2023. They spoke with people living in the home, relatives and staff. They observed care and checked care plans, risk assessments, medicines records, recruitment files, training records and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found people were protected from abuse, supported by trained staff, treated with dignity and given personalised care. Infection control, safeguarding and risk management were also found to be effective.
The report makes recommendations about staffing levels and deployment, medicines records and medicines audits. Some records for topical and as-needed medicines were incomplete, although the home took immediate action. The report says improvements had been made since the previous provider was rated Requires Improvement in 2019, and the home was no longer in breach of regulations.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors observed staff treating people with compassion and respect. Relatives also spoke positively about the staff approach.
“We observed staff supporting people in a kind, compassionate and respectful manner.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans described people's preferences and routines in detail. Staff understood people's individual needs and communication styles.
“Support plans were detailed and reviewed regularly. They were person-centred, containing people's likes, dislikes and preferences.” from the report
Trained staff
Training records were up to date and staff received supervision and appraisal. Inspectors found staff had the knowledge and skills needed to provide care.
“Nurses and care staff received training and had the knowledge and skills they needed to safely provide care.” from the report
Good safeguarding and infection control
Staff knew how to recognise and report abuse. Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed effectively.
“We were assured that the provider was responding effectively to risks and signs of infection.” from the report
Staffing pressure
needs fixingAlthough inspectors observed enough staff during the visit, people, relatives and staff said there were times when staff were too busy. The report recommends that staffing arrangements are reviewed.
“We recommend that the provider review their staffing arrangements.” from the report
Medicines audit did not find all gaps
needs fixingThe medicines audit did not identify incomplete records about monitoring equipment used by people with long-term health conditions. Inspectors recommended making the audit more robust.
“Medicines audits did not identify incomplete records regarding the additional monitoring and care of medicines equipment for people who had long-term health conditions.” from the report
Worn communal decoration
minorSome decoration was worn and the home would benefit from refurbishment. The development plan included refurbishment and more dementia-friendly orientation aids.
“There were some dementia friendly orientation aids on one unit, but the decor was worn and would benefit from refurbishment.” from the report
- 01What changes have been made to staffing levels and deployment, especially during busy mornings?
- 02How do you now make sure topical medicines records state where each medicine should be applied?
- 03How are as-needed medicines records checked for completeness?
- 04How has the medicines audit been improved to identify monitoring and equipment records for people with long-term health conditions?
- 05What is the timetable for refurbishing the worn areas and adding dementia-friendly orientation aids?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five key questions, including infection prevention and control; the report says this was the first inspection since the service registered under the current provider. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 March 2023 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 Old Gates Care Home
5 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- March 2023Goodcurrent ratingup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2019Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2019Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- July 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2017Requires improvementSafe: InadequateEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2022
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 8 April 2022.
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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Blackburn with Darwen
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 £1,260 a week. 91 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Primrose is a very kind and compassionate healthcare professional”
“She understands the needs of an elderly person in the early stages of dementia and has treated my mother with great kindness and skill.”
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.