CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at St Catherine's Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from avoidable harm. Inspectors found safe medicines management, suitable staffing, person-centred risk assessments, clean premises and a proactive approach to learning from incidents.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed and reviewed, and staff received extensive training. The home supported nutrition, healthcare, communication and decision-making in line with people's needs.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- People were treated with exceptional dignity, respect and affection. Staff supported independence, relationships, spiritual needs and involvement in decisions about care.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans contained detailed information about people's preferences. People had access to varied activities, outings, community links and support for end of life care.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found strong oversight, an open and inclusive culture, positive staff morale and good partnership working. The manager was applying to become the registered manager.
What inspectors found, March 2020
St Catherine's Care Home was rated Good overall, with Outstanding caring and a warm, person-centred approach.
This was an unannounced inspection on 16 December 2019. One inspector and one Expert by Experience spoke with people, relatives, staff and health and social care professionals. They also looked at care plans, risk assessments, medicines records, staff training, policies, meetings and maintenance records.
Inspectors found that people felt safe, well cared for and at home. Medicines, staffing, the building and safety equipment were managed safely. Staff were trained and supported, and care was adapted to people's needs and preferences.
Caring was rated Outstanding. Inspectors found people were treated with exceptional kindness, dignity and respect. Activities were varied, religious beliefs were respected, and people were supported to stay involved in relationships, decisions and the running of the home.
The overall rating was Good. Safe, Effective, Responsive and Well-led were rated Good, while Caring improved from Good at the previous inspection to Outstanding. The report says the service will continue to be monitored through the normal reinspection programme.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors found an affectionate and highly respectful atmosphere. Staff supported people's dignity, independence, relationships and individual interests.
“People were always treated with the upmost dignity and respect, by a staff team and service that was consistently described in exceptional and distinctive terms.” from the report
Safe medicines management
Staff were trained to use the electronic medicines system. Audits, stock checks, ordering and records were managed effectively.
“Staff managed medicines safely and were well trained. They understood the electronic system in place.” from the report
Well-trained staff
Staff received mandatory and additional training, including dementia awareness and relationship and intimacy awareness training. They said they were well supported.
“Staff received extensive training and were well supported in their role. The manager sourced training in addition to the mandatory topics covered at induction.” from the report
Activities and community links
People could take part in group and one-to-one activities, outings, choir activities and intergenerational community work.
“Activities and community involvement were varied and vibrant.” from the report
Strong person-centred culture
Staff understood the home's approach to meeting people's individual needs, wants and wishes. People were supported to have choice and control.
“All staff demonstrated an understanding of the provider's ethos of providing person-centred care and meeting the individual needs, wants and wishes of each person.” from the report
Use of agency staff
minorSome agency staff were used, and one person said staff changes happened quite a lot. Managers had plans to reduce agency use and improve continuity of care.
“Staff changes quite a lot in here sometimes with the agency staff but they are all nice.” from the report
Manager registration was still being arranged
minorThe manager running the service was applying to become the registered manager. At the time, another registered manager was responsible for two homes.
“The manager was in the process of applying to be registered manager.” from the report
- 01How much agency staff are currently being used, and what progress has been made in reducing this?
- 02Who is currently the registered manager, and has the manager's registration application been completed?
- 03How are people's individual wishes, relationships and religious or spiritual preferences recorded and reviewed?
- 04What activities, outings and one-to-one opportunities are available for someone with my relative's interests and abilities?
- 05How will you keep families informed about medicines, care records and any incidents affecting their relative?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering the care provided and the premises, with all five CQC questions assessed; the provider was not asked to complete a provider information return beforehand. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 March 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, June 2017
St Catherine's Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with previous medicines concerns addressed.
This was an unannounced inspection on 27 March 2017. The inspection team spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and healthcare professionals. They reviewed care records, medicines records, staff recruitment and training records, rotas and the home itself.
All five areas were rated Good: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, good staff training, effective healthcare support and people being treated with kindness, dignity and respect.
Care plans focused on people's needs and preferences. People were supported with food, drinks, activities, community links and religious needs. Complaints were investigated and the home used feedback and audits to make improvements.
At the previous inspection, the provider had been asked to improve the handling and recording of medicines. Inspectors found that the legal requirements had been met and that medicines were now managed safely.
Medicines managed safely
Inspectors found that medicines were stored, administered, recorded and disposed of safely. The earlier problem with prescribed creams had been addressed.
“We found the medicines systems were well organised and that people were receiving their medicines when they should.” from the report
Well-trained staff
The home had a strong training and development programme. Staff had training for general care and for specific needs such as dementia, palliative care and infection control.
“Staff received extensive training and support to meet people's needs effectively.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors observed calm and friendly relationships. Staff respected people's privacy, dignity, choices and independence.
“We observed people were comfortable in the company of staff and responded well when engaging with them.” from the report
Personalised support
People were involved in planning their care. Plans recorded their needs, wishes, preferences and goals, and staff knew people well.
“Individualised care plans were focused on each person's needs and preferences.” from the report
Strong oversight
The management team used audits, meetings, feedback and action plans to monitor the home and make improvements.
“Robust quality assurance systems were in place which took into account people's views and experiences.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you continue to check that medicines, including creams, are administered and recorded safely?
- 02How do you assess staffing levels each day when people's care and nursing needs change?
- 03Which staff members have specialist training for dementia, palliative care and other needs relevant to my relative?
- 04How do you monitor whether people at risk of poor nutrition or dehydration are eating and drinking enough?
- 05How are activities and community outings matched to each person's interests, abilities and wishes?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five questions and the overall quality of the service. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 June 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 St Catherine's Care Home
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2020Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2016GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
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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36 live-in carers within about an hour of Newcastle upon Tyne
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 £950 to £1,160 a week. 30 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in the night.”
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