CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Seymour Court Nursing and Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed. This included visitor checks, social distancing, protective equipment, testing, cleaning and plans for managing outbreaks.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, December 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection prevention and control arrangements.
Inspectors visited the home on 17 November 2020 as part of a coronavirus infection control review. The visit was announced and focused on how the home prevented and managed infections.
They found good practice. Visitors had temperature checks and health questions, staff used protective equipment properly, and people and staff were regularly tested. The home also used social distancing, cleaning routines and plans for managing a COVID-19 outbreak.
The home was inspected but not rated overall, and the Safe question was also inspected but not rated. This means the visit was not a full inspection and does not provide ratings for the other areas of care.
Infection prevention
The home had systems to reduce the spread of infection. Visitors were checked on arrival and clear reminders about protective equipment and handwashing were displayed.
“Systems were in place to help prevent people, staff and visitors from catching and spreading infection.” from the report
Protective equipment and testing
There was enough protective equipment, staff used it correctly, and people and staff were tested regularly.
“There was sufficient PPE such as aprons, gloves and masks.” from the report
Cleaning and outbreak planning
The home was clean and hygienic, with extra cleaning of frequently touched areas. It also had plans for safely managing a COVID-19 outbreak.
“The registered manager had robust plans in place detailing how to safely manage an outbreak of COVID-19 in the service, including zoning of rooms and cohorting staff.” from the report
Family contact
Staff supported people's emotional wellbeing and helped them keep in touch with family and friends through calls, video calls and socially distanced visits.
“People were also supported to maintain contact with family members and friends via phone, video calling and socially distanced out door visits.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have your infection prevention and control arrangements changed since the inspection?
- 02How do you test people and staff for infections, and what happens if a result is positive?
- 03How would you manage an outbreak, including room zoning and staffing arrangements?
- 04How do you support safe visits and contact with family and friends?
- 05What are the home's current ratings or inspection findings for caring, responsive care and leadership?
This was an announced thematic review focused on infection prevention and control; the home was inspected but not rated overall, and the other care areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 December 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, December 2019
Rated Good overall, with Outstanding caring; inspectors found kind, personalised care and some recruitment records needed improvement.
Inspectors visited unannounced on 11 and 12 November 2019. They spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff, professionals and visitors. They also reviewed care records, medicines records, recruitment files and management records.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe, Effective, Responsive and Well-led were rated Good. Caring was rated Outstanding. Inspectors found people were treated with warmth, dignity and respect, and were supported to make choices and maintain important relationships.
The home had improved since the previous inspection, which was rated Requires Improvement in November 2018. Earlier concerns about the building and medicines had been addressed, and the home was no longer in breach of regulations. Some staff recruitment files still had gaps, although the provider said these were corrected after the inspection.
Exceptional kindness
People and relatives consistently described staff as kind and compassionate. Inspectors saw staff respond warmly to people's emotional and physical needs.
“People were at the heart of the service, staff truly cared, were motivated to deliver exceptional care and often went the extra mile.” from the report
Respect and choice
People were treated as individuals and supported to make decisions about their care. Staff also helped people maintain important relationships and remain as independent as possible.
“People were empowered to make choices and have as much control as possible.” from the report
Safe medicines
Medicines were managed safely, with improved records and further staff training. Relatives said people received medicines as prescribed.
“Medicines management was safe and followed best practice.” from the report
Good leadership
The management team worked together effectively and staff felt supported. The home used feedback, meetings and monitoring to improve care.
“The registered manager and clinical lead worked successfully together to lead the service.” from the report
Meaningful support
Staff helped people take part in activities, visit meaningful places and follow their beliefs. End of life wishes were discussed and respected.
“Regardless of the complexities of their health, the staff team found a way to ensure people were able do things that were meaningful to them.” from the report
Recruitment records
needs fixingSome staff files did not clearly record referee details or all of a new worker's career history. The provider told inspectors that the gaps were corrected and new processes were introduced after the inspection.
“Some staff recruitment records contained gaps in the information recorded.” from the report
- 01What changes have been made to staff recruitment files since inspectors found gaps?
- 02How do you now check and record referee details and employment history for new staff?
- 03How will you make sure the planned Accessible Information Standard training is completed?
- 04How are people's individual activities, relationships and end of life wishes recorded and reviewed?
- 05Has an activities co-ordinator been recruited, and what activities are now available?
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating and covered all five CQC questions, including the premises and care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 December 2019 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 Seymour Court Nursing and Care Home
2 rated inspections over a year: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- December 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Seymour Court Nursing and Care Home →
- December 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Seymour Court Nursing and Care Home →
- November 2018Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2017
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 6 October 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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9 live-in carers within about an hour of Plymouth
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.
8 can care for a couple. 9 years' experience on average.
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.