CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Station Court
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control, including protective equipment, testing, hygiene, social distancing and outbreak management.
- 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, March 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control arrangements during a targeted visit.
This was an unannounced inspection on 23 February 2021. It was carried out because concerns had been raised about infection prevention and control.
Inspectors checked infection control measures, including visitors, social distancing, admissions, personal protective equipment, testing, hygiene and outbreak arrangements. They were assured that these measures were in place.
The home had enough aprons, gloves and masks, and staff used them correctly. People and staff were tested regularly, and a COVID-19 vaccination programme was in place.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the visit checked infection control only and did not give an overall quality rating.
Infection prevention
Inspectors found systems to help prevent people, staff and visitors from catching and spreading infection.
“Systems were in place to help prevent people, staff and visitors from catching and spreading infection.” from the report
Protective equipment
There was enough protective equipment, and staff were using it properly. Staff had also been trained to put it on and take it off.
“There was sufficient PPE such as aprons, gloves and masks.” from the report
Testing and vaccination
People and staff were tested regularly, and a COVID-19 vaccination programme was in place.
“Staff and people were tested regularly for COVID-19. A COVID-19 vaccination programme was in place.” from the report
Staff and people’s wellbeing
Inspectors saw positive interactions between staff and people. Staff said they worked as a team to support wellbeing during the pandemic.
“We observed positive interactions between staff and people.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you currently prevent and manage infection outbreaks?
- 02How often are people and staff tested, and what happens if someone tests positive?
- 03How do you check that staff are using aprons, gloves and masks safely?
- 04How do you make sure new admissions are assessed and admitted safely?
- 05When was the infection prevention and control policy last updated?
This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control measures; the service was inspected but not rated and the report does not give ratings for the other areas. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 March 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.
What inspectors found, December 2020
Rated Good overall; a targeted inspection found strong infection control, but the safe rating was not given.
Inspectors visited the home on 11 November 2020. This was an announced, targeted inspection because of coronavirus outbreaks in care homes. It looked at infection prevention and control.
Inspectors found checks for visitors, safe use of protective equipment, social distancing and regular Covid-19 testing. They also found that the home was clean and that frequently touched areas were regularly cleaned.
The overall service rating was Good. However, Safe was inspected but not rated, so this visit did not provide a new rating for that question.
Visitor checks
The home had systems to check visitors before they entered, to reduce the risk of infection spreading.
“We were assured that the provider was preventing visitors from catching and spreading infections.” from the report
Protective equipment
Staff used protective equipment and managers checked that it was being used correctly. Staff had training in infection prevention and control.
“Staff wore personal protective equipment (PPE) and management staff checked they did this in the right way.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean, with frequent cleaning of areas people often touched.
“The home looked clean and housekeeping staff made sure they frequently cleaned key touch points, such as handrails and door handles.” from the report
Testing and distancing
Regular Covid-19 testing was in place for people living in the home and staff. Furniture had been rearranged to support social distancing.
“Regular testing for Covid-19 was in place for people and the staff team.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visitors checked before entering the home now?
- 02How are staff trained and checked on the safe use of PPE?
- 03How often are people living in the home and staff tested for Covid-19 now?
- 04How does the home currently manage infection outbreaks?
- 05When was the infection prevention and control policy last updated?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control under the Safe question; Safe was inspected but not rated, and the other five-question areas were not covered. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 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.
Every inspection of Station Court
4 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2018Goodup from Requires improvement
- June 2017Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 February 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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23 live-in carers within about an hour of Northumberland
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 £1,190 a week. 20 can care for a couple. 11 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.