CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Rathgar Care Home
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found robust COVID-19 infection controls.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 7 February 2022. It focused on infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic, and asked about staffing pressures.
Inspectors found strong arrangements to reduce infection risks. Visitors were screened, tested and checked for vaccination status. Staff and residents were tested and vaccinated, and staff used suitable protective equipment.
The home was clean and had no odours. Staff had infection control training, including how to put on and remove protective equipment. The manager carried out regular checks.
The service was inspected but not rated. This report is not a full assessment of the home's overall quality or of all five CQC questions.
Visitor infection checks
Visitors were screened before entering and had to show vaccination evidence and a negative COVID test.
“The provider had robust systems and processes in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean, without unpleasant smells, and saw appropriate disposal of protective equipment.
“The environment appeared clean and had no odours.” from the report
Staff protective equipment
Staff wore suitable protective equipment, changed uniforms between shifts and received training and checks on using it safely.
“All staff had received infection prevention and control and donning and doffing training.” from the report
Regular oversight
The manager carried out regular checks of infection prevention and control practices.
“The registered manager completed regular audits to ensure oversight of IPC practices.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection prevention and control arrangements are in place now for visitors, including testing and vaccination checks?
- 02How do you manage staffing pressures when staff are absent because of COVID-19?
- 03How often are staff checked on putting on and removing protective equipment, and what happens if practice is not correct?
- 04How do residents keep in contact with relatives and friends under the current visiting procedures?
- 05What infection prevention and control audits are carried out, and can families see the results?
This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control practices and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 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, May 2018
Rathgar Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe and well-managed care, with an overdue fire risk assessment dealt with promptly.
This was an unannounced, comprehensive inspection on 1 May 2018. Inspectors spoke with people living there, relatives, staff and a health professional. They observed care, checked three care records and five staff files, and reviewed medicines, training, complaints and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, suitable recruitment checks, safe medicines systems and care plans that reflected people's individual needs.
People were treated with kindness and respect. Staff knew people's preferences and supported their health, nutrition, activities and end-of-life wishes. Relatives gave positive feedback and said management was approachable.
The inspection found that the fire risk assessment was overdue. The provider acted immediately after this was identified, and later improved the external fire door locking system and bedroom door closures.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw positive relationships between people and staff. Staff understood people's likes, dislikes and personal needs.
“People received care from staff that knew them and were kind, compassionate and respectful.” from the report
Individual care planning
Care plans included people's history, preferences, spiritual needs and interests. They were reviewed monthly or when people's needs changed.
“People had individualised care plans that detailed the care and support people needed; this ensured that staff had the information they needed to provide consistent support for people.” from the report
Safe medicines and staffing
Inspectors found enough staff on the inspection day and safe systems for giving and storing medicines. Staff competencies were checked regularly.
“There were safe systems in place for the administration of medicines and people could be assured they were cared for by staff who understood their responsibilities to keep them safe.” from the report
Good involvement and leadership
People, relatives and staff were encouraged to give feedback. Management was described as open, visible and approachable.
“There was a culture of openness and transparency demonstrated by the provider's proactive approach in encouraging people and their families to give feedback about the service and listening to staff.” from the report
Overdue fire risk assessment
needs fixingThe fire risk assessment was overdue when inspectors visited. The provider acted immediately and later made further changes to fire doors and bedroom door closures.
“However, we did identify that the Fire risk assessment was overdue.” from the report
- 01How often is the fire risk assessment reviewed, and when was the latest one completed?
- 02How do you check that staffing levels remain sufficient when people's needs change or staff are absent?
- 03What changes were made after the previous concerns about staffing and people being left in wet clothing?
- 04How are care plans and people's food, fluid and health needs reviewed when their condition changes?
- 05How are relatives involved in care reviews, complaints and decisions about end-of-life care?
This was the first comprehensive inspection after a change in legal entity in May 2017, and it assessed all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 May 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 Rathgar Care Home
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- May 2018GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2017
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 4 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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of West Northamptonshire
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 £1,280 a week. 87 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
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