CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at St Clare's Court
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, February 2022
St Clare's Court was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and safe admissions during the COVID-19 review.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 20 January 2022. Inspectors focused on infection prevention and control, including COVID-19 measures. They also asked about staffing pressures and their effect on care.
The inspectors were assured about visitor safety, social distancing, admissions, PPE, testing, cleaning and managing infection outbreaks. They found the home clean and tidy, with an up-to-date infection control policy.
The home was inspected but not rated. This was not a full assessment of all five areas of care, so the report does not provide a new overall quality rating.
Safe admissions
Inspectors found that people were admitted safely to the home.
“Admissions to the service were carried out safely.” from the report
PPE use
PPE was available and staff were supported to use it correctly.
“Personal protective equipment (PPE) was in place and staff were supported to use this correctly.” from the report
Clean premises
The home was being cleaned regularly and inspectors found it clean and tidy.
“Regular cleaning was taking place and the premises were clean and tidy.” from the report
Regular testing
People living in the home and staff were tested regularly for COVID-19.
“People and staff were regularly tested for 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 do you currently check that staff use PPE correctly?
- 03How often are people living in the home and staff tested when there is an infection risk?
- 04How are visits managed if there is an outbreak or increased infection risk?
- 05How do you make sure new admissions are safe when infection risks are present?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, with questions about staffing pressures; it was not a full inspection and the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 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, January 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe care with outstanding end of life support, but some medicines and fluid records were incomplete.
Inspectors visited on 15 and 23 November 2017. The first day was unannounced. They spoke with seven people, nine relatives and staff, and checked care plans, medicine records, recruitment files, training records and management records.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe, Effective, Caring and Well-led were also rated Good. Responsive was rated Outstanding, mainly because of highly personalised end of life care and strong support for relatives.
Inspectors found some gaps in medicine administration records and food and fluid charts. The registered manager acted during the inspection, and later checks showed improvements. The report says this was the provider's first inspection since becoming registered.
End of life support
The home provided highly personalised end of life care. Relatives were given practical support, including somewhere to rest or stay, and were welcomed back after a death.
“The service provided outstanding end of life care that had a positive impact on people and their relatives at this sad and distressing time.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Staff knew people well and supported their dignity, privacy, choices and communication needs.
“People were supported by kind and attentive staff who clearly knew people well.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans included people's routines, likes, dislikes, faith and cultural needs. People and relatives were involved where possible.
“Care plans were individualised and person centred. Plans were reviewed and evaluated regularly to ensure planned support was current and up to date.” from the report
Activities and community links
People could take part in varied activities and maintain links with the local community. The home also supported individual interests and personal wishes.
“We found daily entries covered a wide range of activities.” from the report
Medicine records
needs fixingInspectors found gaps in medicine administration records for two people on one day. Earlier audits had also identified gaps, although the manager acted and later checks found no gaps or anomalies.
“We checked recent medicine administrations records (MAR) for seven people and found one day when gaps had occurred in recording for two people.” from the report
Food and fluid records
needs fixingSome food and fluid charts were not completed correctly, and target fluid amounts were initially missing. The records were improved during the inspection.
“Where people required their food and fluid intake recorded we found records were not always completed correctly.” from the report
Waiting for help
needs fixingPeople and relatives gave mixed views about staffing. Some said people sometimes waited a long time for assistance, although inspectors found staffing numbers appropriate and buzzers answered promptly during the visit.
“My [family member] sometimes has to wait a long time for assistance … it wasn't too bad when the care home wasn't full” from the report
Activities during the day
minorOne relative felt there were not enough activities during the day. Other people enjoyed the activities, and staff also supported people who preferred to stay in their rooms.
“I think there is a lack of activities during the day, there are two part-time activity coordinators but only do activities for an hour on the morning and an hour on the afternoon” from the report
- 01What checks are now used to make sure every medicine administration and fridge temperature is recorded correctly?
- 02How do you make sure food and fluid charts include clear target amounts and are completed every day?
- 03How do you decide staffing levels when the home is full, and how do you monitor waiting times for help?
- 04What activities are available each day, including for people who prefer individual or quieter activities?
- 05Have all care plans and risk assessments now been moved from the previous provider's documents to the current system?
This was a comprehensive inspection of the whole home, including premises and care, with the first day unannounced; it was the provider's first inspection since becoming registered. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 January 2018 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 Clare's Court
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2018GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- November 2016
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 2 November 2016.
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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47 live-in carers within about an hour of County Durham
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 £960 to £1,210 a week. 42 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.”
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.