CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Clough Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found robust safeguarding systems, up-to-date risk assessments, safe medicines management, adequate staffing and appropriate infection control.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused visit. A previous comprehensive inspection rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- People said staff were kind and respectful. Care plans recorded people's choices, needs and preferences, and inspectors observed good interactions.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused visit. A previous comprehensive inspection rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Most staff felt the home was well run and the manager was approachable. Audits, complaints handling and communication with relatives were found to be appropriate, although some staff raised concerns about staffing issues.
What inspectors found, May 2021
The Clough Care Home was rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, kind care, with some staff concerns about staffing issues.
This was a focused inspection on 27 April 2021. Inspectors reviewed information before the visit, spoke with people, staff and professionals, observed care, and checked care, medicine, recruitment and management records.
Safe, caring and well-led were all rated Good. Inspectors found safeguarding, risk assessments, medicines, staffing, infection control and complaints systems were working appropriately. People said staff were kind, respected their choices and supported their privacy and independence.
Some staff were unhappy with how staffing issues were handled, and some wanted staff meetings more often. The manager acted immediately on the staffing concerns. The inspection followed concerns about poor care standards, but inspectors found no evidence that people were at risk of harm.
Effective and Responsive were not inspected during this visit. Their previous ratings were used when calculating the overall rating. The overall rating remained Good, as it had been at the previous inspection published on 4 September 2019.
Safeguarding and risk management
Staff had safeguarding training and knew how to report concerns. Individual and general risk assessments were regularly reviewed.
“Systems for safeguarding people from harm were robust.” from the report
Safe medicines and infection control
Medicines records were complete and up to date. Inspectors also found safe visitor arrangements and regular infection control training.
“We looked at medicines administration records, which were complete and up to date.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People told inspectors they were looked after kindly. Their privacy, dignity, choices and independence were supported.
“People told us they were looked after kindly and their privacy and dignity were respected.” from the report
Person-centred care
Care plans recorded people's preferences, goals and important personal wishes. Staff supported people to make choices about their daily routines.
“Care plans were person-centred and included people's desired goals and outcomes, which were respected.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The management team used audits, walk rounds and spot checks to identify issues and make improvements.
“Audits and quality checks were completed and the results analysed regularly.” from the report
Staffing issues
minorA minority of staff were unhappy with how staffing issues had been resolved. The manager responded immediately by starting individual discussions and an action plan.
“A minority of staff expressed dissatisfaction with the resolution of staffing issues brought to the registered manager's attention.” from the report
Frequency of staff meetings
minorSome staff said meetings and supervision would be more helpful if they happened more often.
“However, some staff felt it would be helpful if these were held on a more regular basis.” from the report
- 01What actions were completed after staff raised concerns about how staffing issues were handled?
- 02Are staff meetings and supervisions now held more regularly?
- 03How do you check that staffing numbers remain sufficient for each person's needs?
- 04What were the previous ratings for Effective and Responsive, and when will these areas next be fully inspected?
- 05How have concerns about poor care standards been monitored since this inspection?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Caring and Well-led only; Effective and Responsive were not inspected and their previous ratings were used for the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 May 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, September 2019
The Clough Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and well-organised care, with clear improvements since the previous inspection.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 13 August 2019. One inspector and an Expert by Experience spoke with 12 people, a relative, staff and managers. They reviewed care files, staff records, training information, safety records, audits and complaints.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found medicines were managed safely, records were complete, staffing was sufficient and the home was clean. People received choices about food, care and daily life, and staff treated them with dignity and respect.
At the previous inspection, the home was rated Requires Improvement and had breached Regulation 12 because medicines and health and safety records were not managed safely. Inspectors found enough improvement had been made, so the breach had been resolved and the overall rating improved to Good.
Safer medicines
Medicines were administered safely. Records, storage, disposal and temperature checks were complete, with monthly audits to identify problems.
“Medicines were administered safely and safe systems were in place for ordering, storage and disposal.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw staff protect people's privacy and dignity, explain care and ask for consent. People's choices and independence were respected.
“Personal care tasks were undertaken discreetly and with regard to people's privacy and dignity.” from the report
Good food and hydration
Meals were nutritious and people had plenty of food and drink choices. Special diets and weight monitoring were managed.
“The dining experience we observed was calm, pleasant and relaxed, with warm conversation between staff and people who used the service.” from the report
Improved management
New audits, care planning systems and staff supervisions helped the home identify and address issues. This was a significant improvement from the previous inspection.
“A system of monthly audits had been implemented and these had successfully identified any issues in areas such as falls, weights, medicines and equipment.” from the report
Activities coordinator not in post
needs fixingThere was no activities coordinator when inspectors visited. Staff and visiting entertainers provided activities, but some people said there were limited options and no trips out.
“There was currently no activities coordinator at the home, but one was being sought.” from the report
Staff knowledge of legal safeguards
needs fixingAlthough the paperwork for consent and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards was in order, inspectors found staff knowledge in this area was minimal. The manager agreed to provide further support.
“Staff knowledge and understanding of MCA and DoLS was minimal.” from the report
Bathroom safety issues
minorOne bathroom lacked window restrictors and another had a ladder that was not stored safely. The manager dealt with both issues immediately during the inspection.
“The window opened quite wide and someone could potential have fall from this window.” from the report
- 01Has an activities coordinator now been appointed, and what regular activities and trips are currently available?
- 02How have staff knowledge and training about the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards been improved?
- 03What checks are now used to make sure windows, ladders and other bathroom safety risks remain controlled?
- 04How are medicines audits and health and safety records checked since the improvements made after the previous inspection?
- 05How will my relative's personal preferences, communication needs and choices be recorded and reviewed in the electronic care plan?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the care provided and the care home premises. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 September 2019 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 The Clough Care Home
5 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- May 2021Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodCaring: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2018Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- September 2017Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 26 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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