CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Silk Court 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, including the use of PPE, testing, visiting, isolation and outbreak procedures. The provider also had measures to reduce the risks linked to COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- 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, February 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection-control arrangements and safe visiting procedures.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 3 February 2022. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also asked about staffing pressures and their effect on care.
Inspectors were assured that the home was using protective equipment safely, arranging testing, managing possible outbreaks and keeping its infection-control policy up to date. Staff understood how to support people who needed to isolate.
The home had procedures for safe visits, including testing visitors before entry. Relatives were kept updated and were given information about becoming essential care givers. The inspection did not produce a quality rating.
Safe visiting
Visitors were tested before entering, and relatives were kept informed about changes to visiting arrangements. The home also explained how relatives could become essential care givers.
“There were clear procedures in place to ensure visitors could enter the home safely, with a requirement to take or show a negative lateral flow device (LFD) COVID-19 test before entering the home.” from the report
PPE and infection control
The home checked its PPE supplies weekly, trained staff in infection control and used reminders about wearing PPE correctly. Inspectors saw staff following the expected practice.
“We observed staff following best practice throughout the inspection.” from the report
Managing outbreaks
Staff knew what to do if there were positive COVID-19 cases and how to support people who needed to isolate. The home used separate processes for isolation and laundry.
“Staff were confident about the actions they had to take if there were new positive cases of COVID-19 in the home and how they would support people who had to isolate.” from the report
Checks and support
Managers carried out regular infection-control audits and spot checks. Infection-control champions were introduced to help staff understand their responsibilities.
“The management team carried out regular IPC audits, which included observations and spot checks across the home.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection-control, testing and visiting arrangements are in place now?
- 02How would you support my relative if they needed to isolate during an outbreak?
- 03How do you check that staff and visiting professionals meet the current vaccination requirements?
- 04How do you manage staffing pressures, and what effect would staff shortages have on my relative's care?
- 05How often are infection-control audits and spot checks carried out, and what happens when they identify a problem?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, with questions about staffing pressures; it did not provide a rating for the overall service. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 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, April 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and pandemic safety measures.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 19 March 2021. It focused on infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic, rather than giving a full rating of the home.
Inspectors found that visitors were screened, PPE was available, social distancing was followed and staff understood infection control measures. They were assured that the home was managing testing, admissions, shielding, cleaning and possible outbreaks.
The home supports up to 51 people and had 36 residents at the inspection. The overall service and Safe question were recorded as inspected but not rated. The report does not give ratings for the other four questions.
Visitor safety
Visitors were screened before entering. They had their temperatures checked and were given PPE, while social distancing was observed.
“The service ensured that visitors to the home were carefully screened so that they did not present a risk to people in the home.” from the report
Staff infection control
Staff understood infection prevention measures and had received training and regular updates.
“Staff had a good understanding of infection prevention and control measures.” from the report
PPE supplies
The home had enough suitable PPE for infection control.
“The home had enough and appropriate PPE.” from the report
Community support
Inspectors found that staff and residents supported each other through the practical challenges of the pandemic.
“Staff and people using the service approached the pandemic as one community whilst encouraging and supporting each other through the various challenges” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection control arrangements are currently in place for visitors, including screening, PPE and social distancing?
- 02How often are staff and residents currently tested, and what happens if someone tests positive?
- 03How do you safely admit new residents and manage the risk of an infection outbreak?
- 04When was the home's infection prevention and control policy last updated?
- 05What is the home's most recent full inspection rating, since this inspection was not rated?
This was an announced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; it did not provide a full rating of all five areas. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 April 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 Silk Court Care Home
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- June 2020Gooddown from OutstandingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2017Outstandingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- February 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 25 November 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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