CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at The Laurels Care and Nursing Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People told inspectors they felt safe and there were enough staff to meet their needs. Some recruitment records did not contain enough information, although the provider said its procedures were being reviewed.
- Effective?
- Requires improvement
- Menus lacked choice and had not been routinely reviewed, and fluid intake was not always calculated properly. Some staff induction records were incomplete, and parts of the building needed improvement.
- Caring?
- Good
- People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff knew people's needs and preferences and supported people to make choices and remain as independent as possible.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's needs, preferences and routines, and staff supported family contact and activities. Daily records and complaints records were not always detailed enough, but the manager was addressing this.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had visible management, a welcoming atmosphere and systems for checking quality and safety. Some shortfalls were found, but the provider took action and supplied an improvement plan.
What inspectors found, October 2019
The Laurels Care and Nursing Home was rated Good overall; inspectors found kind, safe care, but meals, staff training and some records needed improvement.
This was an unannounced inspection on 14 August 2019. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, relatives and staff. They reviewed care and medicines records, recruitment files, audits and maintenance checks, and looked around the building and grounds.
The home was rated Good for safe, caring, responsive and well-led care. People said they felt safe and were treated kindly and with dignity. Staff supported healthcare needs, responded to concerns and offered activities and flexible visiting.
The effective rating was Requires Improvement. Menus had not been reviewed for two years and did not offer enough balanced choices. Some parts of the building needed refurbishment, and staff training and induction records were inconsistent. The home had plans to address these issues.
People felt safe
People said they felt safe, and inspectors saw staff respond promptly when people needed help. Risks such as falls, skin problems and nutrition were assessed and managed.
“People said, "Yes I feel very safe, there is always someone here to help me", "I do feel safe absolutely!” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw staff speak with people in a kind and friendly way. People said their privacy, dignity and choices were respected.
“People were treated with respect, compassion and kindness, they were given emotional support when needed.” from the report
Healthcare support
People's health was monitored and changes were responded to. Healthcare appointments and support from other professionals were arranged when needed.
“People and their relatives said access to healthcare practitioners was arranged promptly and visits made within reasonable time scales.” from the report
Activities and family contact
The home offered group and individual activities, including games, crafts and therapies. Visiting arrangements were flexible and families and friends were welcomed.
“The provider had a programme of activities to help promote people's intellectual and emotional wellbeing.” from the report
Limited meal choices
needs fixingMenus had not been reviewed for two years. Lunch alternatives were limited and were not always nutritionally equivalent to the main meal.
“However, we found menus lacked choices and were not routinely reviewed and updated.” from the report
Nutrition records
needs fixingFluid charts showed recommended amounts, but staff had not always calculated people's actual intake. This meant nutrition and hydration needs might not have been monitored effectively.
“Fluid charts highlighted a recommended intake but amounts had not always been calculated to check consumption.” from the report
Staff induction and training
needs fixingOne staff member had not completed an induction and two other induction records had gaps. New staff had not yet enrolled for recognised health and social care qualifications.
“This meant staff may not have the skills and knowledge needed to provide effective care and support.” from the report
Building improvements
minorSome floor coverings, decoration and outdoor access needed improvement. The provider had plans to refurbish the home and make it more suitable for people living with dementia.
“We noted some areas needed improvement, including floor coverings, general decoration and access to suitable outdoor areas.” from the report
Some records were incomplete
minorA recruitment record lacked enough employment and reference information. Daily care records and records of relatives' involvement did not always contain enough detail.
“Daily records were written in a respectful way but were not sufficiently detailed about how people spent their day or about the care they received.” from the report
- 01What changes have been made to the menus, and how do you make sure alternatives provide a balanced diet?
- 02How do you now calculate and monitor each person's food and fluid intake?
- 03Have all staff completed induction, and what recognised training or qualifications are they undertaking?
- 04Which refurbishment work has been completed since the inspection, especially to outdoor areas and spaces for people living with dementia?
- 05How are daily care records and records of relatives' involvement checked for completeness?
This was a planned, unannounced inspection covering the care, premises and all five CQC questions; the previous overall rating was Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 October 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.
What inspectors found, March 2017
The Laurels Care and Nursing Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and well-organised care, with no major shortfalls.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 31 January 2017. One inspector spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and a visiting healthcare professional. They reviewed care records, medicines records, staff files, training records, complaints, maintenance documents and quality checks.
Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, suitable safeguarding arrangements and well-managed medicines. Risks such as falls, poor nutrition and pressure ulcers were assessed and reviewed. Staff were trained, supported and understood people's choices and rights.
People and relatives described staff as kind, respectful and helpful. Care plans reflected people's needs, preferences, faith and cultural choices. Activities, visiting arrangements and complaints processes were in place.
All five areas were rated Good. The previous rating was Requires Improvement, but inspectors said improvements had been maintained consistently and the home was meeting the current regulations.
Enough staff
Inspectors found enough staff on duty and people said help was available when they needed it. Staff said they had time to spend with people and did not feel rushed.
“During the inspection we found there were sufficient staff on duty.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well and supported them in a calm and respectful way. Inspectors saw that privacy and dignity were protected.
“We found staff were respectful to people, attentive to their needs and addressed them with their preferred name.” from the report
Personalised care plans
Care plans covered people's health, communication, interests, family contact, faith and cultural preferences. They gave staff clear guidance about what mattered to each person.
“Care plans were written to reflect assessed needs and included life history, their likes and dislikes and what was important to them when providing their support.” from the report
Trained and supported staff
Staff received a broad range of training, regular supervision and support to develop their skills. New staff completed induction training linked to the Care Certificate.
“We found they received a wide range of appropriate training to give them the necessary skills and knowledge to help them look after people properly.” from the report
Good oversight
The home used audits and checks covering areas such as medicines, infection control, care plans, staffing and the environment. Inspectors found that action was taken when shortfalls were identified.
“Quality assurance and auditing processes introduced had been effective and were identifying more easily and effectively any shortfalls in practice.” from the report
No menu displayed
minorAlthough people enjoyed the food and received choices, there was no menu displayed. People did not know what was on the menu when inspectors asked them.
“There was no menu displayed however and people did not know what was on the menu when we asked them.” from the report
- 01How do you now make sure people can see the menu and choose what they want to eat?
- 02How are care plans reviewed when a person's health or support needs change?
- 03How do you check that staffing levels remain enough when staff are sick or on leave?
- 04What activities are available for someone with my relative's interests, faith and abilities?
- 05How can relatives raise a concern, and how will they be kept informed about the response?
This was an unannounced inspection of the overall service covering all five CQC questions and providing a new overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 March 2017 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 Laurels Care and Nursing Home
5 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- October 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at The Laurels Care and Nursing Home →
- March 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at The Laurels Care and Nursing Home →
- May 2016Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2015Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2015Requires improvementSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 19 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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85 live-in carers within about an hour of Lancashire
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 £1,260 a week. 78 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She understands the needs of an elderly person in the early stages of dementia and has treated my mother with great kindness and skill.”
“Thanks to Tracy, Dad was always immaculately dressed and clean, his meals were all home cooked and nutritionally well balanced and his home was always kept really clean and tidy.”
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.