CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at The Laurels Care Centre
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
What inspectors found, August 2021
The Laurels Care Centre was rated Good; inspectors found safe care and positive leadership, but some record keeping needed improvement.
This was an unannounced, focused inspection on 15 and 16 July 2021. It followed concerns about staffing, safe care and leadership. One inspector visited, spoke with people, staff, a visitor, professionals and family members, and checked care, medicine, staffing and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found suitable staffing, safe medicines practice, risk assessments, infection control and safeguarding arrangements. People said they felt safe and that staff were kind and responsive.
Quality systems and record keeping were still being established. Inspectors found some areas that needed improvement, but the manager had already identified these and created an action plan. The overall rating remained Good, as did the rating at the previous inspection in 2018.
Safe staffing
Inspectors found staffing levels and skill mix were consistent during the inspection. Regular agency staff were used where needed to provide continuity.
“Rota's confirmed staffing levels were consistent, and the skill mix appropriate.” from the report
Medicines
Medicines were stored, given and disposed of safely. Staff who administered them had training and competency checks, and records were checked regularly.
“Medicines were stored, administered and disposed of safely. Medicines were ordered in a timely way.” from the report
Infection control
The home had arrangements for cleaning, testing, protective equipment, visiting and managing possible COVID-19 infections.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Learning from incidents
Accidents and incidents were recorded, reviewed and used to update risk assessments and reduce the chance of them happening again.
“Learning from incidents and accidents took place. Specific details and follow up actions by staff to prevent a re-occurrence were clearly documented.” from the report
Record keeping
needs fixingSome records needed improvement, including records supporting person-centred care. The manager had already recognised this and had an action plan in place.
“Whilst we identified some areas in record keeping for improvement this had already been identified by the manager and an action plan had been developed and risk therefore was mitigated.” from the report
Raising staffing concerns
minorInspectors received negative feedback about how staff raised staffing issues. They judged that the effect on people's safety was minimal.
“We did receive negative feedback about the processes staff used to raise staffing issues and this has been reflected in the Well-Led Question as the impact on people's safety was minimal.” from the report
- 01What parts of the care records were identified for improvement, and what has been completed under the action plan?
- 02How are staffing levels being maintained while recruitment is still under way?
- 03How can staff raise staffing concerns, and how are those concerns followed up?
- 04Has the manager's registration with the CQC been completed?
- 05When was the electronic medicines recording system reintroduced, and how is medicines recording checked now?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led, including infection prevention and control; the other key question ratings were not reassessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 August 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, March 2021
The Laurels Nursing Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control measures were safe.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 25 February 2021. It focused only on infection prevention and control after a coronavirus outbreak. The home cared for 44 people, with space for up to 52.
Inspectors were assured that the home was managing visitors, admissions, isolation, testing, PPE, social distancing and cleaning safely. Staff had infection control training and were observed following the correct practices.
The home was closed to most visitors at the time, apart from visits for people receiving end of life care. People were supported to stay in touch with families by phone and video calls, and through one-to-one activities.
The service was marked as inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give a Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate rating, and it does not assess all areas of care.
PPE and staff training
Staff had Covid-19 training, including how to put on and remove PPE safely. Inspectors saw staff using PPE correctly.
“Staff had received specific Covid-19 training, and this included guidance for staff about how to put on and take off PPE safely.” from the report
Cleaning
The home was clean and maintained, with regular cleaning of frequently touched areas and clear cleaning schedules.
“The home was clean and well maintained. There was regular cleaning throughout the day, and this included high-touch areas.” from the report
Testing and monitoring
The home had regular testing arrangements for people and staff, as well as daily temperature checks and oxygen level checks for people.
“Routinely all staff have a weekly PCR and twice weekly lateral flow test (LFT).” from the report
Contact with families
While most people stayed in their rooms, staff supported one-to-one activities and contact with relatives through phone and video calls.
“Staff supported people to remain engaged with one to one activities and to remain in contact with their families through phone and video calls.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection prevention and control arrangements are in place now, and how do they differ from those checked in February 2021?
- 02What are the current rules for visiting, including visits for people receiving end of life care?
- 03How are new residents tested and supported during any isolation period?
- 04How will my relative be supported to keep in contact with family if they spend time in their room?
- 05What recent CQC rating or inspection information is available for areas not covered by this report?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control only; the service was inspected but not rated and the other four areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 March 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 The Laurels Care Centre
4 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- August 2021Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- September 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: Good
- January 2016GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 27 October 2010.
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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19 live-in carers within about an hour of East Sussex
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 £1,000 to £1,400 a week. 13 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“When he point blank refused to go into hospital for a life saving blood transfusion she talked him through the situation and agreed to go in the ambulance with him and stayed until he was settled.”
“Una felt safe, secure and loved in her time with Debbie which is a gift that I am eternally grateful for.”
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.