CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at St Giles Charity Estates
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, November 2020
St Giles Charity Estates: inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong COVID-19 infection control arrangements.
Inspectors visited the home on 9 November 2020 as part of a national review of infection prevention and control in care homes. The visit was announced.
They found good arrangements for people arriving or returning from hospital, including an isolation corridor, COVID-19 testing and enhanced cleaning and infection control procedures.
The home had safe arrangements for visitors, staff worked in small teams, and there were plans to manage emergencies. Inspectors were assured about infection prevention, personal protective equipment, testing, visits and the building's layout.
No ratings were given. This was a focused review of infection control, so it does not provide an overall quality rating or ratings for the other areas of care.
Isolation arrangements
A separate corridor was used for new admissions and people returning from hospital. Staff used extra infection control checks when entering rooms.
“Enhanced infection control procedures were in place, including a checklist each time a staff member entered the room, to ensure good practice was followed.” from the report
Testing and admissions
People arriving at the home needed a negative COVID-19 test, and there was regular testing for staff and residents.
“Everyone who arrived in the service was required to have a negative test for COVID-19 immediately prior to their admission.” from the report
Visitors and staffing
The home had arrangements for safe visits and reduced infection risks by using permanent staff, small teams and on-site uniform laundry.
“Safe arrangements were in place for visitors to the service including health professionals and relatives.” from the report
Emergency planning
The contingency plan was regularly updated and was intended to help the home respond to emergencies.
“The contingency plan was a practical working document which was regularly updated when anything changed.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are new admissions and people returning from hospital isolated now?
- 02What COVID-19 or other infection testing arrangements are currently in place for residents and staff?
- 03How can relatives visit, and what arrangements are available if indoor visits are restricted?
- 04How are staff teams and staffing cover organised if staff need to self-isolate?
- 05When was the contingency plan last reviewed and what changes have been made since this inspection?
This was an announced thematic review focused on infection prevention and control; no ratings were given for the other areas of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 November 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, November 2017
St Giles Charity Estates was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care across all five areas.
The inspection was comprehensive and unannounced. It took place on 29 September 2017. The inspector spoke with people living in the home, visitors and staff, observed care, and checked care records, staff records and other management records.
People told inspectors they felt safe. Staff were experienced, trained and available in sufficient numbers. Medicines, recruitment, safeguarding, fire safety and care plans were managed appropriately.
Inspectors found that care was kind, respectful and based on people's individual needs and choices. People had enough to eat and drink, could access healthcare, and were supported to keep links with family and friends.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. It was also rated Good at the previous inspection in September 2015, so the overall rating remained Good.
Safe staffing
Inspectors found enough experienced and trained staff to meet people's assessed needs safely.
“There were sufficient numbers of experienced and trained staff to safely meet people's assessed needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff supported people patiently and with compassion. They respected privacy and encouraged people to do things for themselves.
“They were treated with kindness and staff provided their support in an unhurried manner so that people were enabled to do things for themselves without feeling 'rushed'.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's needs, preferences and changing levels of dependence. Activities were adapted to individual interests and abilities.
“Care plans were regularly reviewed and updated information showed that people's individual needs and preferences had been taken into account and acted upon with the person's involvement.” from the report
Good oversight
The manager was described as supportive and approachable. The provider used audits and feedback to monitor the quality of care.
“People received a service that was monitored for quality throughout the year using the systems put in place by the provider.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you assess and review my relative's care needs before admission and if those needs change?
- 02How many staff are usually on duty, including when people are staying for respite care?
- 03How would you support my relative's food, drink and healthcare needs, including any special diet?
- 04What activities would be suitable for my relative's interests, abilities and motivation?
- 05How would you keep the family informed and respond if we raised a complaint or concern?
This was a comprehensive, unannounced inspection of the whole service, covering all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 November 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 Giles Charity Estates
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- November 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- November 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 27 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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What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of West Northamptonshire
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 £1,280 a week. 87 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“We can all fully relax around Nyarai and she feels like part of our family, which is no mean feat!”
“If you bump into her in the night on her way to the bathroom she will still inquire how you are and if everything is alright.”
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.