CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Pelton Grange Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was preventing the spread of infection, using PPE safely, carrying out testing and managing admissions and outbreaks.
- Effective?
- Good
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Pelton Grange Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection control and visiting arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 28 January 2022. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and whether COVID-19 staffing pressures were affecting care.
Inspectors said they were assured that the home was using personal protective equipment safely, carrying out testing, cleaning regularly and managing infection risks. Staff were observed wearing protective equipment correctly.
The home supported contact with relatives through visits, online visiting, garden visits and window visits. At the time, some residents had tested positive for COVID-19, so visits were limited for those residents to essential care givers and people receiving end of life care.
The service was inspected but not rated. This report does not provide an overall quality rating or ratings for most of the five key questions.
Infection control
The home had policies and procedures for managing COVID-19 risks. Inspectors were assured that infection prevention measures were in place.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Safe use of PPE
There was enough protective equipment and hand sanitiser. Staff had updated training and were observed using PPE correctly.
“There was an ample supply of PPE for staff and any visitors to use.” from the report
Keeping families connected
The home used several ways to help residents stay in touch with relatives when normal visits were not possible.
“Garden and window visits were also facilitated.” from the report
Testing and screening
Regular COVID-19 testing was in place for residents, staff and visitors. Visitors also went through screening before entering.
“A programme of regular COVID-19 testing for both people in the home, staff, and visitors to the home had been implemented.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What are the current visiting arrangements, and how would you help my relative keep in touch if visits were restricted?
- 02How do you manage visits when a resident has tested positive for COVID-19 or there is an outbreak?
- 03How do you cover shifts when COVID-19 or other staffing pressures affect the home?
- 04How often are residents, staff and visitors tested, and what screening is required before entry?
- 05How do you make sure staff and visiting professionals meet the current vaccination or exemption requirements?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated and the other key questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 February 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, July 2019
Rated Good in all five areas; inspectors found sustained improvements, with some medicine records and a first-floor smell needing attention.
This was an unannounced inspection on 3 and 4 July 2019. Two inspectors and an Expert by Experience spoke with people, relatives, staff and a health professional. They also observed care and checked care, medicine, staff and management records.
Inspectors found that people received safe, kind and personalised care. Staff understood people's needs, gained consent, supported people with food and drink, and provided activities. The home was clean and tidy overall, although there was a slightly unpleasant smell on the first floor.
The overall rating was Good, and each of the five areas was rated Good. This followed significant improvements since the previous inspection, when the service was rated Requires Improvement and had several breaches. The report says the improvements had been sustained and legal requirements were met.
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives said staff were caring and compassionate. Inspectors saw positive relationships and respect for privacy, dignity and independence.
“People were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff respected people's privacy and dignity and they were supported to be as independent as possible.” from the report
Enough trained staff
There were enough staff to meet people's needs promptly. Training in key areas was up to date, and new staff received a comprehensive induction.
“Staff had completed up to date training in key areas. Staff were competent, knowledgeable and skilled and they carried out their roles effectively.” from the report
Personalised support
Staff knew people well and care plans included detailed information about individual preferences, routines, history and religious needs.
“Care plans contained detailed information about people's likes, dislikes, routines, personal history and religious needs.” from the report
Good activities and community links
People had a range of activities, including caring for hens, and the home supported links with the local community. Inspectors said these helped reduce isolation and support wellbeing.
“There were good community links and people told us how much they enjoyed going to events at the nearby community centre.” from the report
Medicine records
needs fixingRecording for one person's prescribed thickener was not consistent, and there were gaps in records for some prescribed creams. The manager addressed the thickener issue immediately and had already identified the cream-recording problem.
“There were some gaps in records for people's prescribed creams. This had already been identified by the manager's checks and staff had been reminded of the need to keep accurate records.” from the report
Smell on the first floor
minorThe home was clean and tidy overall, but inspectors noticed a slightly unpleasant smell in one area. Attempts to resolve it had not worked at the time, and carpet replacement was planned.
“The home was clean and tidy but there was a slightly unpleasant smell on the first floor.” from the report
- 01How do you now check that prescribed creams and thickener are recorded every time they are given?
- 02Was the carpet on the first floor replaced, and has the unpleasant smell been resolved?
- 03What changes have been made since the July 2019 inspection?
- 04How are people's changing needs recorded and passed on to staff at handover?
- 05How do residents and relatives give feedback, and what recent changes have been made in response?
This was a planned inspection covering all five key questions; the report also says a focused inspection on 18 February 2019 checked improvements after the previous rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 25 July 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.
Every inspection of Pelton Grange Care Home
3 rated inspections over a year: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- July 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2019Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- July 2018Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2017
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 17 May 2017.
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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47 live-in carers within about an hour of County Durham
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 £960 to £1,210 a week. 42 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“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.