CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Knoll
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was preventing and controlling infection safely. They reviewed PPE, testing, cleaning, social distancing, admissions and plans for managing infection.
- 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, January 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured the home had safe infection prevention and control arrangements.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 21 December 2020. It checked how the home prevented and controlled coronavirus infection, rather than providing a full assessment of all areas of care.
Inspectors found good practice in visiting arrangements, admissions, testing, use of protective equipment, cleaning, social distancing and plans for managing infection. They were assured that the home was following safe infection prevention and control procedures.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give a current overall rating or ratings for most areas of care.
Safe visiting
The home had created a visiting pod and also used technology to help people stay in touch with relatives.
“The provider and registered manager had set up a visiting 'pod' in accordance with recognised safe visiting guidance.” from the report
Safe admissions
New residents were admitted after a negative COVID-19 test and were supported to self-isolate for up to 14 days.
“People were only admitted following a negative COVID-19 test result and supported to self-isolate for up to 14 days following admission” from the report
PPE and staff training
Staff had infection control and COVID-19 training. The manager checked that staff were using PPE correctly.
“Staff had received training and support in relation to infection control and COVID-19.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How is the visiting pod being used now, and what other ways can residents keep in contact with relatives?
- 02What testing and isolation arrangements are used for people moving into the home now?
- 03How do you check that staff continue to use PPE correctly?
- 04What is your current plan if a resident or staff member develops COVID-19?
- 05How often are frequently touched surfaces cleaned, and how is this checked?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control practices only; it did not provide ratings for the other areas of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 January 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, January 2020
The Knoll is rated Good overall; inspectors found effective care and improved leadership, but Safe, Caring and Responsive were not inspected this time.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 11 and 16 December 2019. Inspectors looked only at Effective and Well-led because concerns had been raised about person-centred care. They spoke with two people and eight staff, reviewed three care plans and checked training, records, health care involvement and quality checks.
The home was rated Good for Effective. Inspectors found that care plans reflected people's needs and choices. Staff understood how to support people, food and drink needs were met, and health professionals were contacted when needed. An electronic care planning system gave staff prompts and helped monitor nutrition, hydration and personal care.
The home was rated Good for Well-led, improving from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection. Inspectors found visible management, better teamwork, regular audits and action plans. The overall rating remained Good. The other three key questions were not inspected at this visit, so their previous ratings were used.
Person-centred care plans
Care plans described people's needs, choices and communication. Inspectors saw staff following this guidance in practice.
“People's care plans were person centred and contained details about how they should be supported.” from the report
Food and drink support
People had choices of food and drink, and staff helped when needed. The electronic system helped staff keep nutritional and hydration needs under review.
“The electronic care plan system ensured that peoples nutritional and hydration needs were kept under constant review.” from the report
Health care arrangements
Staff noticed changes in people's health and contacted health professionals promptly. Records showed that staff followed the advice they received.
“Records showed staff contacted the local GP and health care professionals promptly and had followed their advice.” from the report
Improved leadership
The Well-led rating improved from Requires Improvement to Good. Inspectors found regular audits, action plans and checks that completed improvements had been put in place.
“We saw evidence of improvements made and learning from any actions identified.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are care staff using the electronic care plan prompts each day, and how do managers check that tasks are completed?
- 02How do you monitor people's food and drink intake, especially when someone needs fortified food, thickened drinks or a modified diet?
- 03What changes were made after the previous Well-led rating of Requires Improvement, and how do you know those changes have lasted?
- 04How are families involved when a person cannot easily express their needs, choices or preferences?
- 05How do you make sure staff have the training and competency checks needed for moving and handling, medicines and safeguarding?
This was a focused inspection of Effective and Well-led only; Safe, Caring and Responsive were not inspected and their previous ratings carried over into the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 January 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 The Knoll
4 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- January 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2019Goodup from Requires improvementEffective: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- November 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- September 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 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 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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38 live-in carers within about an hour of Gloucestershire
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 £1,030 to £1,360 a week. 31 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“She was very caring, kind and patient to all his needs, she built up a wondetful rapport with him, she was dedicated and was there for him through good times as well as through the tough times”
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.