CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at OSJCT Skirbeck Court
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks were assessed, medicines were managed safely and staff understood how to protect people from abuse and infection. Some people said staff were not always able to help when needed, especially in the morning.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed before they moved in. Staff received training and supervision, and people were supported with nutrition, healthcare and decisions about their care.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were kind and knew people's needs and personalities. People were supported to make choices, remain independent and keep their privacy and dignity.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans included people's preferences and communication needs. People were offered activities, community trips and support at the end of life.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had effective audits and gathered feedback from people, relatives and staff. There was no registered manager during the inspection, but an interim manager was overseeing the home and a new manager was appointed afterwards.
What inspectors found, December 2019
OSJCT Skirbeck Court was rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe care, but some people waited too long for help at busy times.
This was an unannounced inspection on 26 September 2019. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, relatives and staff. They observed care and reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff recruitment files and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that medicines were managed safely, staff were trained, care was personalised, and people were treated with kindness, dignity and respect.
There had been some staff shortages, and some people had to wait a little while for help, especially in the morning. The home had increased staffing at busy times and had recruited to vacant posts. There was no registered manager during the inspection, but an interim manager was in place and a new manager was appointed after the visit.
The previous inspection was also rated Good, published in March 2017. The report says the home was well maintained and had systems to monitor and improve the quality of care.
Safe medicines
Inspectors found medicines were stored, given and recorded safely. Staff also took appropriate action when people regularly refused medicines.
“Medicine administration records had been fully completed and accurately reflect the medicines people had taken.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well and supported their choices, dignity and independence. Inspectors saw calm and reassuring interactions.
“Staff were kind, caring and knew people's needs well.” from the report
Personalised support
People and families were involved in care planning. Care plans included likes, dislikes, communication needs and guidance about changing needs.
“Each care plan had a one-page profile which highlighted people's likes and dislikes so that staff could personalise care.” from the report
Activities and community life
People had regular activities, access to gardens and community outings. Volunteers also provided individual company and activities.
“Other activities supported people to access the local and wider community.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The interim manager and provider used audits, incident reviews and feedback to identify improvements. Staff said they felt listened to.
“There were effective audits in the home, this allowed the interim manager and provider to monitor the quality of care provided and to make improvements when needed.” from the report
Waiting for help
needs fixingSome people said staff were not always available when they needed support. Records showed that people waited a little longer for care in the mornings, although staffing had been increased at busy times.
“Some people we spoke with told us that staff had not always been able to support them when needed.” from the report
No registered manager at inspection
needs fixingThe home did not have a registered manager when inspectors visited. An interim manager was in place, and a new manager was appointed after the inspection and applied to register.
“There was not a registered manager for the home when we inspected.” from the report
- 01What are the current staffing levels at busy times, especially in the mornings?
- 02How long do people usually wait for help with bells or personal care?
- 03Has the new manager become registered with CQC, and who is responsible for the home now?
- 04How do you make sure agency staff understand each person's needs?
- 05What changes have been made since the inspection in September 2019?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering the care, premises and all five CQC questions, including reviews of records and observations of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 31 December 2019 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 2017
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, personalised care, with medicines storage and early-morning staffing issues to address.
This was an unannounced inspection on 7 February 2017. One inspector spoke with people living in the home, relatives and staff. They also observed care, checked five care records and reviewed staffing, training and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. It had also been rated Good at the previous inspection, and inspectors found that this rating remained appropriate.
People told inspectors they felt safe and received the care they needed. Staff supported people with food, drink, healthcare, activities, privacy, dignity and decisions about their care. Care plans were reviewed and complaints could be raised through a written procedure.
Inspectors found two matters needing attention. Medicines were not always stored at the correct temperature, although action was being taken. People also reported that early mornings could be short staffed, sometimes causing waits for help.
Safeguarding
Staff understood how to recognise and report abuse. Inspectors also found that action had been taken to protect a person from possible financial mistreatment.
“Records showed that staff had completed training and had received guidance in how to keep people safe from situations in which they might experience abuse.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff were friendly, patient and discreet. They supported people's privacy, dignity and personal choices.
“We saw that people were being treated with respect and in a caring and kind way.” from the report
Personalised support
Staff consulted people about the care they wanted, recorded this in care plans and reviewed the plans as people's wishes changed.
“These care plans were regularly reviewed to make sure that they accurately reflected people's changing wishes.” from the report
Activities and interests
People were offered a range of social activities and opportunities to follow their interests, including arts and crafts, quizzes, gentle exercise and a holiday away from the home.
“Records confirmed that people were offered the opportunity to enjoy taking part in a range of social events.” from the report
Quality checks
The provider regularly checked care, medicines, staff skills, the building and equipment. People were also invited to suggest improvements.
“Records showed that the registered persons had regularly checked to make sure that people were reliably receiving all of the care they needed.” from the report
Medicine storage temperature
needs fixingMedicines were secure and administered correctly, but they were not always kept at the temperature needed to maintain their effect. Management said action was being taken quickly.
“Although medicines were stored securely we noted that they were not always kept at the right temperature to maintain their therapeutic effect.” from the report
Early-morning staffing
needs fixingPeople said the home was often short staffed early in the morning and that they sometimes had to wait for assistance. Management said it would review whether staffing should be increased at busy times.
“However, they also said that the service was often short staffed in the early morning period resulting in them sometimes having to wait for assistance.” from the report
- 01What changes were made to ensure medicines are always stored at the correct temperature?
- 02How do you check and record medicine storage temperatures now?
- 03How many staff are on duty during the early morning, and how do you prevent people waiting for assistance?
- 04How are care plans reviewed when a person's wishes or needs change?
- 05How do you use residents' views to make improvements to the home?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC areas and providing an overall rating; it found that the previous Good rating remained appropriate. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 March 2017 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 OSJCT Skirbeck Court
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 16 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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9 live-in carers within about an hour of Lincolnshire
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.
8 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Martin was more than a carer, he managed the home and became my uncle's best friend, enriching his life during his last few years.”
“Magda was always positive and proactive about trying new things to keep dad busy. She also introduced new ideas for keeping dad healthy.”
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.