CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Princes Court
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found sufficient staff, safe medicines management and risk assessments that were reviewed after falls. One fire safety action identified by the Fire and Rescue Service was still due to be completed.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed using best-practice guidance. Staff training, support with food and drink, rehabilitation and work with health professionals were positive. Inspectors discussed whether consent for assisted living technology should be recorded.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found positive leadership, quality checks and staff involvement. However, records were not always fully available to show how duty of candour responsibilities had been met.
What inspectors found, September 2022
Princes Court was rated Good; inspectors found safe, effective and well-led care, but one fire action and some records still needed attention.
This was an unannounced inspection over three visits. Inspectors spoke with people, relatives, staff and health professionals. They reviewed care records, medicines records, recruitment and training records, and how the home was managed.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe, Effective and Well-led were also rated Good. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines management, suitable risk assessments, good infection control and positive working with health professionals.
The inspection followed concerns about falls, the environment, staff training and management. Inspectors found no evidence that people were at risk of harm from these concerns. One fire safety action was still due, and inspectors suggested improvements to some records, including consent and COVID-19 checks.
Caring and Responsive were not inspected during this visit. Their previous ratings were carried forward when calculating the overall rating. The previous overall rating was Good, published on 3 September 2020.
Enough staff
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs. They observed staff working calmly and without rushing.
“There were sufficient staff deployed to meet people's needs.” from the report
Safe medicines
Medicines records showed that medicines were given as prescribed. People also said staff managed their medicines well.
“Medicines administration records demonstrated that medicines were given as prescribed.” from the report
Staff development
The home placed emphasis on training and progression. It had specialist and champion roles covering areas such as dementia, falls and palliative care.
“There was an emphasis on staff training and progression.” from the report
Rehabilitation support
Staff in the rehabilitation unit worked with NHS professionals to help people recover and regain independence.
“In the rehabilitation unit, staff worked with NHS staff including doctors, physiotherapists and occupational therapists to help them recover and regain their independence.” from the report
Fire safety action
needs fixingThe Fire and Rescue Service had identified several measures. All but one had reportedly been completed, with the final action due soon.
“The registered manager and estates manager confirmed that these had been completed with the exception of one action which was due to be carried out soon.” from the report
Consent records
minorPeople gave verbal consent for the assisted living technology pilot, but inspectors questioned whether this consent should also have been recorded.
“Whilst verbal consent was obtained regarding the Assisted Living Technology pilot, we discussed whether people's consent should be recorded.” from the report
Duty of candour records
minorThe manager understood the duty to be open and honest when things went wrong, but records were not always available to demonstrate this.
“Whilst records were not always fully available to demonstrate how the provider was meeting their responsibilities” from the report
COVID-19 check records
minorInspectors signposted the provider to further resources about recording COVID-19 checks completed before and at admission.
“We signposted the provider to additional resources including the recording of COVID-19 checks which were carried out prior to and on admission.” from the report
- 01Has the remaining fire safety action now been completed, and what was it?
- 02How do you record people's consent for assisted living technology and other monitoring?
- 03How are COVID-19 checks recorded before and on admission?
- 04How would you respond if something went wrong, and how would you record your duty of candour actions?
- 05What current evidence can you provide about how the home is caring and responding to people's individual needs?
This inspection examined Safe, Effective and Well-led because of concerns about falls, the environment, staff training and management; Caring and Responsive were not inspected and the other ratings carried over from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 September 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, February 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control at Princes Court.
This was a targeted, announced inspection on 17 December 2020. It focused on infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors were assured that visitors were screened, people were admitted safely, and personal protective equipment was used properly. They also found regular testing, social distancing measures and updated infection control policies.
The home had cleaning checks and arrangements to help residents keep in touch with relatives. The inspection did not give an overall quality rating or a rated score for the service.
Visitor screening
Visitors had their temperatures checked and answered questions about their health before entering.
“All visitors had their temperature checked upon arrival at the service.” from the report
Protective equipment and training
Visitors and staff had access to suitable protective equipment. Staff had training in its use and in supporting people living with dementia while wearing it.
“All visitors and staff had access to adequate amounts of appropriate PPE.” from the report
Cleaning arrangements
The home had daily and deeper cleaning routines, with regular checks to identify and correct problems.
“Robust cleaning protocols were in place for both daily and more in-depth cleaning.” from the report
Family contact
The home provided tablets, telephones and a designated visiting area to help people maintain contact with relatives while following guidance.
“Systems were in place to support people to maintain contact with their family.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01Are visitors still screened for symptoms and temperature before entering the home?
- 02What infection control and protective equipment training do staff currently receive?
- 03How often are cleaning audits carried out, and how are any problems corrected?
- 04How can residents currently keep in touch with relatives and receive visitors?
- 05What was the outcome of the most recent inspection covering care other than infection prevention and control?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control practices only; the service was inspected but not rated overall. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 February 2021 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 Princes Court
7 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- September 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- September 2020Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2020Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2016Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- July 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
- October 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 November 2011.
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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30 live-in carers within about an hour of North Tyneside
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 £950 to £1,130 a week. 26 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.”
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