CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Stobars Hall
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control, testing, protective equipment, cleaning and visiting arrangements. The provider also described measures to manage COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, April 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and improved arrangements for essential visits.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 2 February 2022. It looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and whether COVID-19 staffing pressures affected care.
Inspectors found daily testing for people and staff, enough infection control supplies, effective use of protective equipment and a clean home. Visitors were screened, and relatives said the visiting arrangements were positive.
The home had previously misunderstood the guidance about essential care visitors. By this inspection, essential visitors were being supported and recorded in people's care records. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Testing and infection control
The home had a comprehensive COVID-19 testing programme for people and staff, with staff tested daily on arrival.
“There was a comprehensive COVID-19 testing programme for people and staff.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean, with an increased cleaning schedule during the pandemic.
“The home was clean and the cleaning schedule had increased as a result of the pandemic.” from the report
Visiting arrangements
Relatives gave positive feedback about visiting, including arrangements for essential care visitors.
“Relatives expressed positive comments about the visiting arrangements that were facilitated by the home, including for essential care givers.” from the report
Staffing support
The provider had extra resources intended to help recruit and retain staff.
“Additional resources were in place to support the recruitment and retention of staff.” from the report
Earlier visiting confusion
needs fixingThe home had previously misunderstood the visiting guidance, leading to concerns about essential care visits. Inspectors found that the arrangements had been changed by the time of this inspection.
“We had previously received concerns about the lack of arrangements of essential care giver visits to the home.” from the report
- 01How are essential care visitors supported and recorded now?
- 02How often are people and staff tested for infections now?
- 03What staffing pressures are there currently, and what measures are being used to manage them?
- 04How are visitors screened and supported during an infection outbreak?
- 05When was the home last given a full rating covering Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 April 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, February 2021
Stobars Hall was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control arrangements and support for residents, visitors and staff.
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control. It took place on 15 and 21 January 2021 and was announced.
Inspectors spoke with two residents and five staff. They reviewed training records, quality checks, policies and other management records.
The inspectors were assured that the home was using personal protective equipment safely, supporting testing, managing visitors and admissions safely, and following shielding and social distancing rules.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the inspection checked infection control arrangements only and did not give an overall quality rating.
Staff infection control training
Staff had completed infection control training and could explain how to put on and remove PPE correctly.
“Staff had completed infection and prevention control training and were able to explain the correct procedures for putting and taking off PPE.” from the report
Safe visiting arrangements
Systems were in place to help visitors enter safely and reduce the risk of spreading infection.
“Systems were in place to support visitors to access the service safely and reduce the risk of them spreading infection.” from the report
Family contact
Residents were supported to stay in contact with their loved ones when face-to-face visits were not taking place.
“People were supported to maintain contact with their loved ones in the absence of face to face visits.” from the report
Checks on infection control
The home used quality checks to monitor infection control and identify improvements.
“Quality assurance audits were completed to ensure safe infection control practices were being followed and to identify any improvements.” from the report
Staff wellbeing support
Staff spoke positively about support from the management team, and extra resources had been found to support their mental health and wellbeing.
“Additional resources had been sourced to support staff's mental health and wellbeing.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visitors currently supported to enter safely and reduce infection risks?
- 02How are PPE training and correct use checked for all staff?
- 03How are residents supported to keep in contact with their loved ones if face-to-face visits are restricted?
- 04How often are infection prevention and control audits completed, and what improvements have resulted?
- 05How are residents and staff being supported with testing and the management of any infection outbreak?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control practices only; the service was inspected but not rated and the other quality areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 February 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 Stobars Hall
3 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- February 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- November 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2018Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- July 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 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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9 live-in carers within about an hour of Westmorland and Furness
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.
8 can care for a couple. 10 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.