CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Rookery Cottage
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection risks were managed through cleaning, protective equipment, testing, visiting controls and an up-to-date policy. The provider also had measures to manage COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Requires improvement
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection, although inspectors noted support for people's wellbeing and family contact during self-isolation.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection, although inspectors found that infection control policies and staff vaccination records were kept up to date.
What inspectors found, April 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and visiting arrangements at Rookery Cottage.
This was a targeted inspection on 23 February 2022. Inspectors looked mainly at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and the effect of COVID-19 staffing pressures. The inspection was announced 24 hours in advance.
The home cared for six people with learning disabilities, autism, and physical and sensory impairments. Inspectors found the building clean, with enough protective equipment and well-stocked hand hygiene points. Visitors had their vaccination status and lateral flow test checked before entering.
Inspectors were assured that the home used protective equipment safely, supported testing, managed admissions and visiting, and kept its infection control policy up to date. Staff supported people's wellbeing and contact with families when people had to self-isolate.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the inspection did not give an overall quality rating or full ratings for all five areas. It was a focused check of infection control and related COVID-19 arrangements.
Clean premises and supplies
The building was clean, and the home had enough personal protective equipment. Hand hygiene points were accessible and fully stocked.
“The building was clean. There were sufficient supplies of personal protective equipment.” from the report
Visitor safety checks
The home checked visitors' COVID-19 vaccination status and lateral flow test results before they entered the main building.
“The service ensured that visitors had their COVID-19 vaccination status and lateral flow test checked before entry to the main building.” from the report
Support during self-isolation
When people had to self-isolate, staff helped them keep in touch with family and friends and planned suitable indoor activities.
“When people needed to self-isolate, staff supported people's wellbeing by maintaining people's links with families and friends” from the report
Up-to-date infection arrangements
The home maintained staff vaccination records and had suitable risk assessments and policies for people and staff who could be at increased risk from COVID-19.
“Appropriate risk assessments and policies were in place to reduce any impact to people staff who may be disproportionately at risk of COVID-19.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What measures are currently in place if COVID-19 causes staffing pressures?
- 02How are visitors currently checked before entering the home?
- 03How would you support my relative's wellbeing and contact with family if they needed to self-isolate?
- 04How are staff and visiting professionals' COVID-19 vaccination and testing arrangements kept up to date?
- 05What infection prevention and control arrangements are currently used in the home?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it did not rate the other care areas. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 April 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, August 2021
Rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, kind care, but the service was not always effective.
The inspection took place on 07 July 2021. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and professionals. They observed communal areas and reviewed care records, medicines records, staff files and management records.
People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Staffing levels, medicines management, infection control and safeguarding systems were satisfactory. Inspectors also found kind and respectful staff who supported people's independence, choices, privacy and dignity.
The Effective rating was Requires Improvement. The building needed changes, including better signs, improved access and more suitable use of the garden. Some care records were incomplete, including guidance for a person with swallowing difficulties. The overall rating remained Good, but Effective had fallen from Good at the previous inspection.
Risk management
People had individual risk assessments covering areas such as moving and handling, eating and drinking, and personal hygiene.
“There were appropriate risk assessments in place for supporting people.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Staff understood people's needs and communicated calmly and sensitively. Relatives also described staff as caring and respectful.
“We always observed staff being respectful; this included the way they talked to people and ensuring they were facing the person they were interacting with.” from the report
Communication support
Staff used different communication approaches for each person, and communication plans were written in an empathetic way.
“People had a communication plan in place which met their needs; they are written in an empathetic manner.” from the report
Positive staff culture
Inspectors found staff worked positively together and supported people in a kind way.
“There was a positive workplace culture amongst the staff.” from the report
Fire safety work delayed
seriousFire risk assessments identified deficiencies, and action to reduce fire risks had not been taken promptly. Contractors had started work on fire doors during the inspection.
“However, actions to mitigate risks from fire were not acted on in a prompt manner.” from the report
Missing swallowing guidance
seriousOne person with swallowing difficulties did not have an eating and drinking guide in their care records. Inspectors said this information was important for staff and to reduce choking risks.
“One person with swallowing difficulties did not have eating and drinking guide within their care documentation.” from the report
Care plans needed more detail
needs fixingOne person's care records did not set out a clear structure for their day. Positive behaviour support plans were also not in place, although action was planned.
“For example, there was no written set structure to a person's day and this could leave a person uncertain.” from the report
Limited activity information
minorInspectors did not see a timetable of activities or easy-read information about possible activities. Community access and activities had also been limited during the pandemic.
“No timetable of activities was noted and no easy-read information about possible activities was produced.” from the report
- 01What fire safety work has been completed since the inspection, and what remains outstanding?
- 02Has the person with swallowing difficulties now got a clear eating and drinking guide in their care records?
- 03What changes have been made to room signs, communication symbols and the entrance for people using mobility aids?
- 04Have positive behaviour support plans and a clear daily structure been added where needed?
- 05How will the home provide families with regular updates and a clear timetable of activities?
This inspection looked at all five CQC questions and included infection prevention and control measures; inspectors also examined concerns about falls and serious injuries, although some related enquiries were still ongoing. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 August 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 Rookery Cottage
3 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- August 2021Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 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.
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Most charge £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 71 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
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