CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Richmond Heights
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, December 2022
Rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found kind care and enough staff, but safety risks, limited activities and weak oversight.
This was the first inspection of the newly registered home. Inspectors visited without warning on 14 November 2022. They observed care, spoke with people, relatives and staff, and checked care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
There were enough staff on the day, people received their medicines as prescribed, and staff were kind. People were supported with food, healthcare and decisions about their care. The home also protected people from abuse and recruited staff safely.
However, some care risks were not managed well enough. Care plans did not always contain enough detail, medicines temperature checks were incomplete, and infection control practices needed improvement. Inspectors also found too little social activity, limited personalised information and weak quality monitoring.
The overall rating means the home was not consistently meeting the required standards. CQC identified breaches of regulations about safe care and treatment and good governance, and asked the provider for an action plan.
Enough staff on the day
Inspectors saw enough staff to respond to people in a timely way. Recruitment records included relevant checks.
“There were enough staff to meet people's needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff were observed being kind. People and relatives said privacy, dignity and individual choices were respected.
“During our inspection we observed staff interacting with people in a kind and caring way.” from the report
Food and healthcare support
People received a healthy balanced diet that considered their preferences. Staff usually worked with other professionals when needed.
“People received a healthy balanced diet which met their needs and took into consideration their preferences.” from the report
Safeguarding systems
The home had systems to protect people from abuse, and staff knew what to do if they suspected abuse.
“The provider had systems in place to protect people from the risk of abuse.” from the report
Care risks were not always managed
seriousSome care plans did not contain enough information to keep people safe. A weight loss concern had not been followed up before the inspection.
“Risks associated with people's care were not always managed to ensure people's needs were met safely.” from the report
Limited activities and personalisation
needs fixingMost people were cared for in bed with little to occupy them. Care plans did not contain enough information about people's preferences, and staff were sometimes task focused.
“We found there was a lack of social activities and stimulation within the home.” from the report
Weak quality checks
seriousThe home's monitoring systems had not found all the problems identified by inspectors. Actions from internal audits had not always been completed promptly.
“These issues had not been previously identified and addressed.” from the report
Incomplete medicine temperature records
needs fixingMedicine room and fridge temperatures were not recorded consistently. Checks had been recorded on only 6 of the previous 14 days.
“Over the last 14 days prior to this inspection, temperature checks had only been recorded 6 times.” from the report
Infection control practice
needs fixingSome staff were not wearing face masks correctly, and some areas and dining chairs needed better cleaning. The concerns seen during the inspection were addressed at the time.
“During our inspection we observed staff either not wearing face masks or not wearing them appropriately.” from the report
- 01What has been done to make sure every care plan contains enough detail about risks, including hoist transfers and weight loss?
- 02What activities and social opportunities are now available, especially for people who spend much of the day in bed?
- 03How are medicine room and fridge temperatures recorded every day, and who checks the records?
- 04What changes have been made to the quality monitoring system so problems are found and fixed promptly?
- 05How are people and relatives now asked for their views about the service?
This was the first inspection of the newly registered care home and covered all five key questions, including infection prevention and control. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 December 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, March 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found infection control arrangements in place, with enhanced cleaning schedules still being developed.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 8 February 2022. Inspectors gave 24 hours' notice and looked at infection prevention, visiting arrangements and the effect of COVID-19 staffing pressures.
The home had supplies of protective equipment and hand sanitiser. People and staff were tested regularly, people were supported to self-isolate when needed, and visiting followed government guidance.
Inspectors found that the premises were clean and well maintained. Enhanced cleaning schedules were still being developed. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Infection prevention
The home had protective equipment and hand sanitiser available at the entrance and throughout the building to help reduce infection spread.
“There were measures in place to prevent any visitors from spreading infection at the entrance and on entering the premises.” from the report
Testing and isolation
People living in the home and staff were tested regularly, and people were supported to self-isolate when appropriate.
“People living at Richmond Heights and staff were tested regularly in line with government guidance.” from the report
Clean premises
Inspectors found the premises clean and well maintained.
“The premises were clean and well maintained.” from the report
Visiting arrangements
Visiting was taking place in line with the government guidance in force at the time.
“Visiting was taking place in accordance with the current government guidance.” from the report
Cleaning schedules still developing
minorEnhanced cleaning schedules were not yet described as complete. The registered manager was still developing them at the time of the inspection.
“The registered manager was in the process of developing enhanced cleaning schedules.” from the report
- 01Have the enhanced cleaning schedules now been completed, and how do you check that they are followed?
- 02What COVID-19-related staffing pressures were present during the inspection, and how were they managed?
- 03How are testing and self-isolation arrangements currently managed for residents and staff?
- 04How are visits managed now, and what happens if there is an infection risk or outbreak?
- 05How do you check that non-exempt staff and visiting professionals meet the vaccination requirements that applied at the time?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 staffing pressures; it was not a full inspection and the service was not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 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.
Every inspection of Richmond Heights
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- December 2022Requires improvementcurrent ratingSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- August 2021
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 26 August 2021.
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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90 live-in carers within about an hour of Sheffield
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 £1,020 to £1,270 a week. 76 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
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