CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Pennystone Court
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home had effective infection prevention and control arrangements, including testing, PPE, cleaning, distancing and outbreak procedures. They found that the most recent visiting risk assessment had not yet been updated after guidance changed.
- 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, March 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control arrangements, but one visiting risk assessment needed updating.
This was a targeted, announced inspection on 14 January 2022. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements, and whether staffing pressures linked to COVID-19 were affecting care.
The home had enough suitably deployed staff on the inspection day. Staff worked extra hours when colleagues were isolating or off sick. Inspectors found arrangements for testing, protective equipment, cleaning, distancing, admissions and managing outbreaks.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give a new overall quality rating. Inspectors found one issue: the latest visiting risk assessment had not been updated after guidance changed on 13 January 2022.
Staffing cover
There were enough suitably deployed staff on the inspection day. Staff worked additional hours when colleagues were isolating or off sick.
“there were enough suitably deployed staff on the day of the inspection.” from the report
Testing records
The home kept comprehensive records showing when staff and residents were tested, including changes during outbreaks and after positive results.
“We saw comprehensive and completed information showing when staff and people in the home were tested.” from the report
Protective equipment
PPE was available throughout the home. Staff received training and checks on using it safely.
“There was ample available PPE throughout the home and staff received spot check competencies” from the report
Visiting arrangements
The home had arrangements for essential care givers and three named visitors. It also provided technology to help people keep in touch with family and friends.
“The provider had set up clear visiting and testing arrangements for essential care givers and three named visitors for people in the home.” from the report
Visiting risk assessment
needs fixingThe latest risk assessment for visits had not been updated after guidance changed on 13 January 2022. Inspectors were assured that the provider and registered manager would update it.
“However, the most recent risk assessment had not been updated following the update to guidance on 13 January 2022.” from the report
- 01Has the visiting risk assessment now been updated following the guidance change on 13 January 2022?
- 02How will visits be arranged if infection control guidance changes again?
- 03How many staff usually work on each shift, and what cover is provided when staff are isolating or off sick?
- 04How often are staff and residents tested, including during an outbreak or after a positive test?
- 05How are PPE skills checked for new and existing staff?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures, and it did not provide an overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 March 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, September 2017
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with no significant shortfalls reported.
This was an unannounced, comprehensive inspection on 6 September 2017. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and the manager. They also observed care, checked records, medicines, staffing, training, food and the building.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors saw staff treating people with kindness, patience, dignity and respect. People and relatives said they were happy with the care.
Inspectors found suitable risk assessments, safe medicines procedures, enough staff, clean surroundings and appropriate training. Care plans were regularly reviewed, healthcare needs were followed up, and people were supported to make choices about their care.
The home was rated Good at its previous inspection and remained Good. This means the inspection found the service was meeting the relevant standards at the time of the visit.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw staff being kind, patient and compassionate. People were treated with dignity and respect.
“We observed they demonstrated compassion towards people in their care and treated them with respect.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
Staffing levels were judged sufficient, and medicines were ordered, stored, administered and recorded safely.
“Medicines had been ordered appropriately, checked on receipt into the home, given as prescribed and stored and disposed of correctly.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans described people's needs and were kept up to date. Staff knew how to support the people in their care.
“Care plans we looked at were reflective of people's needs and had been regularly reviewed to ensure they were up to date.” from the report
Food and healthcare
People had meal choices, snacks and drinks. Special diets were provided, and healthcare needs were monitored and followed up.
“We saw people were given their preferred choice of meal and people with special dietary needs had these met.” from the report
Quality checks and involvement
The management team used audits, meetings and surveys to monitor the service and seek views from relatives and residents.
“The registered manager used a variety of methods to assess and monitor the quality of the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you make sure risk assessments and care plans are updated when someone's needs change?
- 02What safeguarding procedures and staff retraining are in place following the concern mentioned in the report?
- 03How will you support my relative's particular food, drink and dietary needs?
- 04How are people's end of life wishes recorded and shared with staff?
- 05How will you keep relatives informed about healthcare visits, complaints and changes in care?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions and the overall quality of the service. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 September 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 Pennystone Court
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- September 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 22 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
32 live-in carers within about an hour of Blackpool
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 £1,250 a week. 31 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Thanks to Tracy, Dad was always immaculately dressed and clean, his meals were all home cooked and nutritionally well balanced and his home was always kept really clean and tidy.”
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during 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.