CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Ostley House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was preventing and managing infections. They found appropriate arrangements for PPE, testing, social distancing, cleaning, safe admissions and visitors.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, November 2020
Ostley House was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection control during a COVID-19 outbreak.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 02 November 2020. It looked only at infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
The home was supporting people with COVID-19. Inspectors found separate staff teams for people who had tested positive and those who had not. Staff had training in infection control and using protective equipment, and there were sufficient supplies.
Inspectors were assured about testing, safe admissions, visiting arrangements, social distancing, cleaning and the home’s infection control policy. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Managing the outbreak
The home used separate staff teams for people who had tested positive and people who had not. This was part of its plan for managing the COVID-19 outbreak.
“The registered manager had followed guidance to manage the outbreak, including separate staff teams supporting people who had a positive COVID-19 test result and people who did not have a positive test result.” from the report
Protective equipment and training
Staff had training in infection prevention and control and in using PPE safely. Inspectors found that enough PPE was available.
“Staff were trained in infection prevention and control and using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) safely.” from the report
Testing and safe admissions
The home arranged regular COVID-19 testing for staff and residents and followed best practice when people moved into the home.
“The registered manager had arranged for regular COVID-19 testing for staff and people who lived in the home.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found that the home was kept clean and hygienic, with frequently touched surfaces cleaned regularly.
“The staff team kept the home clean and hygienic.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are staff teams separated if there is an infection outbreak now?
- 02How often are residents and staff tested, and what happens after a positive result?
- 03What PPE is available, and how do you check that staff use it safely?
- 04How are visits arranged, including visits when someone is approaching the end of life?
- 05How are communal areas and frequently touched surfaces cleaned?
This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control only; the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 20 November 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, December 2018
Ostley House was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with a recommendation about shared moving-and-handling slings.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 13 November 2018. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and other professionals. They reviewed care records, medicines, staff recruitment and training, accidents, complaints and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People said they felt safe and that staff were kind, respectful and helpful. Inspectors found enough staff, suitable training, safe medicines arrangements and care plans that reflected people's needs.
There were some points to improve. People shared moving-and-handling slings, which could increase the risk of cross-infection. Inspectors recommended reviewing infection control guidance. The manager also began putting clearer written instructions in place for medicines given only when needed. The overall Good rating stayed the same as at the previous inspection.
Kind and respectful staff
People described staff as caring and polite. Inspectors saw staff offering emotional support, listening to people and responding when they were upset.
“Everyone we spoke with told us the staff supporting them were caring, treated them well and were always polite and willing to listen and help.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans recorded people's preferences, relationships and life histories. Staff used this information to support people in ways that suited them.
“We saw that care plans were person-centred and had information about people's personal likes and dislikes, the important people in their lives, any support needed with relationships and information about their lives before they came to live there.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The management team used audits, surveys and regular visits to monitor the service and identify improvements.
“The registered manager had internal systems in place to monitor the quality of the service provided.” from the report
Shared moving-and-handling slings
needs fixingPeople did not routinely have their own sling. Inspectors said sharing these medical devices increased the risk of cross-infection and recommended reviewing infection control guidance.
“Slings are classed as a medical device and sharing these devices increases the risk to people of cross infection occurring.” from the report
Written instructions for 'as required' medicines
needs fixingInspectors raised the need for clearer written plans explaining when extra or as-required medicines should be given. The manager began addressing this during the inspection.
“We raised with the registered manager the use of written plans or protocols that outlined when to administer extra, or as required, medication (PRN).” from the report
People were not familiar with the complaints policy
minorPeople and relatives said they did not know about the complaints policy, although a complaints procedure was displayed and nobody reported concerns about using the service.
“Nobody we asked knew of a complaints policy, although nobody was concerned about this.” from the report
- 01Do people now have their own moving-and-handling sling, and what infection control checks are carried out?
- 02How are instructions for medicines given only when needed recorded, followed and reviewed?
- 03How are new or concerning behaviours assessed and managed to keep other people living in the home safe?
- 04How are residents and relatives told about the complaints procedure?
- 05How are changes in people's needs, such as weight loss or repositioning needs, identified and acted on?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, so all five ratings were assessed rather than carried over. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 December 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 Ostley House
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- November 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 10 December 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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
9 live-in carers within about an hour of Westmorland and Furness
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.
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.