CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Sutton Court Care Centre
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found suitable staffing, risk assessments, safe medicines systems, infection controls and prompt responses to call bells.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not rated in this inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not rated in this inspection, although inspectors reported that staff knew people well and prioritised their wellbeing.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not rated in this inspection, although the report describes personalised support and efforts to respond promptly when people's health changed.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Inspectors found exceptional leadership, strong quality checks, open communication and a clear commitment to learning, innovation and partnership working.
What inspectors found, September 2023
Sutton Court Care Centre is rated Good overall, with Outstanding leadership and safe, caring support.
This was an unannounced inspection by two inspectors on 12 July 2023. They spoke with 8 people, 4 relatives, 9 staff and 3 healthcare professionals. They reviewed care records, medicines records, quality checks, policies and the safety of the building.
The home was rated Good for Safe. Inspectors found that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Staff knew people's needs, call bells were answered promptly, staffing levels were sufficient, and medicines were managed safely.
The home was rated Outstanding for Well-led. Inspectors found strong leadership, effective checks on quality, good partnership working and a clear commitment to improving care. The home was using digital systems and research projects to support people's health and wellbeing.
The overall rating remains Good, as it was at the previous inspection published on 12 February 2021. The Well-led rating improved from Good to Outstanding.
Safe care and staffing
Staff knew people well and understood the support they needed. Inspectors found enough staff to keep people safe, meet their needs and provide one-to-one support when required.
“There were sufficient numbers of staff to keep people safe, meet their needs and spend time engaging with them.” from the report
Safe medicines
The home had introduced an electronic medicines record system. Inspectors found accurate records and better information about when time-critical medicines were due.
“We saw that accurate records were maintained of the medicines administered.” from the report
Strong leadership
The management team had effective systems for checking quality and acting on improvements. Staff said they felt supported and able to speak openly.
“There were effective governance systems in place to review and improve practices.” from the report
Personalised dementia support
Staff used technology, including virtual reality, to help people with dementia revisit familiar places and memories. Inspectors said this supported people's mental wellbeing and helped staff understand them better.
“The management team encouraged and empowered staff to use technology to support people, particularly those with dementia, to reminisce and be present in the moment.” from the report
Working with health services
The home worked with healthcare professionals and used shared health information to support smoother transitions and earlier responses when people's health declined.
“This enabled a clear plan of action in order to further investigate and manage the symptoms the person was displaying.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess and update my relative's risks if their health or mobility changes?
- 02How does the electronic medicines record system help prevent missed or delayed doses?
- 03How will you keep our family informed if my relative becomes unwell or has a fall?
- 04What dementia support, activities or technology would be suitable for my relative?
- 05How do you use hospital and GP information when planning a new resident's care?
This inspection assessed Safe and Well-led only; the other key-question ratings were not given in this report, while the overall rating remained Good from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 2 September 2023 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
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control and safe arrangements for visiting families.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 21 January 2021. It checked infection prevention and control because the home was being used for people discharged from hospital with COVID-19.
Inspectors found that visitors were screened and tested, staff used protective equipment correctly, and the home was cleaned regularly. Staff, residents and visitors had access to testing, handwashing and safety information.
Families could keep in contact through window visits, visits in rooms for people receiving end of life care, video calls and telephone calls. The home was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Infection control
Inspectors found that staff followed infection control guidance, used protective equipment properly and had suitable facilities for handwashing and sanitising.
“We observed staff followed current IPC guidance and practice throughout our visit.” from the report
Testing and outbreak planning
The home tested visitors, residents and staff, and had plans for responding quickly to an infection outbreak.
“The service had plans in place to respond immediately and appropriately to an outbreak of infection to ensure the safety of people and staff.” from the report
Family contact
The home supported window visits and room visits for people receiving end of life care. It also helped people stay in touch by video and telephone.
“When relatives were not able to visit, they kept in touch with people through video and telephone calls.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have your infection prevention and control arrangements changed since the inspection on 21 January 2021?
- 02What testing is currently offered to residents, staff and visitors?
- 03How would you manage an outbreak, and how would you keep families informed?
- 04What visiting arrangements are currently available, including for people receiving end of life care?
- 05Can you provide the latest ratings or inspection information for areas not covered by this report?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control under Safe; the service was inspected but not rated and the other four questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 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 Sutton Court Care Centre
6 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- September 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Outstanding
- February 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2017Goodup from Requires improvementCaring: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2016Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 11 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 Sutton
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 £1,230 a week. 81 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She cared for my mum with Alzheimer's with endless patience and kindness, always arriving with a smile and a positive attitude”
“Terry has been of invaluable help to our family while working as a part-time live-in carer for our mother for approximately 6 months”
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.