CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Sable Cottage Nursing Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Requires improvement
- People generally felt safe and staff understood safeguarding. However, medicines records were not always consistent, some building and maintenance issues affected infection control, and some people said staff were less available at night.
- Effective?
- Good
- People received appropriate support with health, nutrition and hydration, and staff had relevant training. Inspectors recommended formal, ongoing clinical supervision for nursing staff.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were described as patient, kind and compassionate. People were offered choices and supported with privacy, dignity and independence, although careless actions by some staff sometimes damaged rooms, equipment or possessions.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's needs, preferences and communication requirements. People could make everyday choices, take part in activities and raise complaints, which were investigated and answered.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found effective quality checks, action plans and feedback systems. The manager and provider acted on concerns and worked with local professionals and organisations.
What inspectors found, January 2020
Sable Cottage Nursing Home was rated Good overall, but inspectors found safety needed improvement, including medicines records and the condition of some areas.
This was an unannounced inspection on 6 and 7 January 2020. The inspector spoke with people living there, relatives, staff and visiting professionals. Records about care, medicines, staffing, training and management were also checked.
The home was rated Good overall. Effective, caring, responsive and well-led care were all rated Good. People were treated kindly and with dignity. Care plans were detailed, staff knew people's preferences, and concerns and complaints were dealt with.
Safe was rated Requires Improvement. Inspectors found medicines records were not always complete. Some areas, furniture and fittings needed repair or replacement, and there was no formal ongoing clinical support for nursing staff. Recommendations were made about infection control and clinical supervision.
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives described staff as caring, patient and compassionate. Inspectors saw people being treated with dignity and offered choices.
“People were supported by staff that were caring, kind and treated them with dignity and respect.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans contained detailed information about people's backgrounds, preferences, routines and communication needs. Staff knew people well and supported individual choices.
“Care plans were detailed and up to date about people's individual needs and preferences.” from the report
Good support with food and drink
People said they liked the food and had enough to eat and drink. Menus were adapted for different dietary and cultural needs, with support available at mealtimes.
“Hydration stations were available in communal areas, so people, staff and visitors could help themselves to a drink.” from the report
Learning from concerns
Complaints, accidents and incidents were reviewed. The home used feedback and audits to create action plans and make changes.
“Complaints were logged, investigated and responded to.” from the report
Incomplete medicines records
needs fixingStaff did not always record when prescribed thickener or creams were used. The manager gave information after the inspection about how this would be improved.
“Staff were not always consistent in recording when prescribed thickener or creams were being used.” from the report
Repairs and infection control
needs fixingSome areas needed remedial repair and maintenance so they were visibly clean and safe. Some furniture, fixtures and fittings needed replacing because of wear and tear.
“There were areas of the home that required remedial repair and ongoing maintenance to ensure that they were visibly clean and safe.” from the report
Clinical support for nurses
needs fixingNursing staff did not have formal, systematic and continuous clinical supervision. Inspectors recommended that suitable clinical supervision should be arranged.
“There was no clinical support or oversight of the nursing staff to ensure a formal, systematic and continuous process of professional support and learning.” from the report
- 01What changes have been made to ensure prescribed thickener and creams are recorded every time?
- 02Which repairs, replacements and cleaning improvements identified by the inspection have now been completed?
- 03What formal clinical supervision and ongoing support do nursing staff receive now?
- 04How do you make sure temporary or agency staff are available at night and follow the home's standards?
- 05How do you prevent damage to people's rooms, equipment and possessions?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five key questions, including the care provided and the premises. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 January 2020 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, July 2017
Sable Cottage Nursing Home was rated Good in all five areas; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 05 June 2017. One inspector spoke with people living at the home, a visitor, staff and a healthcare professional. They also observed care and checked care, medicines, staffing and management records.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People told inspectors they felt safe, staff were kind, and their wishes were respected. Inspectors found that medicines were managed safely, staff were trained, and people received food, drinks and healthcare support.
The home had a friendly culture and people were encouraged to raise concerns or suggest improvements. The overall rating remained Good, the same as at the previous inspection in September 2014.
People felt safe
People said they trusted staff to keep them safe. Inspectors found that risks were identified and managed, with enough staff available to support people.
“People were supported safely and their needs met by sufficient numbers of staff.” from the report
Safe medicines
Medicines were checked against people's records and records were completed correctly. Only trained and assessed staff administered medicines.
“People's medicines were managed safely. We saw people received their medicine safely and staff checked they were happy to take them.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well and treated them with kindness, dignity and respect. People were involved in decisions about their care.
“People were supported by staff they had positive and mutually respectful relationships with.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans recorded people's preferences and wishes. Staff supported people's interests and helped them stay connected with their community.
“People's care needs, preferences, wishes and what was important to them was recorded in their care plans and staff were aware of these.” from the report
Positive management
Inspectors found a welcoming culture and a management team that listened to staff and residents. The home used audits and meetings to monitor care.
“We found the home had a very positive culture which was echoed by all people, visitors and staff we spoke with.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What has changed in the home since the Good rating in 2017?
- 02How will you assess and support my relative's individual needs, preferences and wishes?
- 03How do you check that medicines are administered safely and records remain complete?
- 04How do you make sure there are enough trained staff to support residents when they need help?
- 05How can my relative and family raise concerns, and how will you respond to them?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 July 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 Sable Cottage Nursing Home
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2020Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2014GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 January 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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84 live-in carers within about an hour of Cheshire West and Chester
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 £1,260 a week. 76 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“She is an exemplary carer, she is knowledgable empathetic and very respectful in the home.”
“It was clear that she genuinely cared and her warm approach really helped put our minds at ease.”
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.