CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Old Hall
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Outstanding
- The inspection looked at whether people were protected from infection. Inspectors were assured about visitors, admissions, protective equipment, testing, cleaning and the infection control policy.
- Effective?
- Outstanding
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, September 2020
The Old Hall was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed well.
This was an announced, targeted inspection during the coronavirus pandemic. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control in the home.
Inspectors found handwashing facilities, visitor masks, remote visiting and extra staff on shifts. New admissions and people returning from hospital were isolated for 14 days.
People and staff were tested regularly. People's temperatures were checked twice a day, staff had infection control training, and the home had cleaning, protective equipment and infection monitoring arrangements.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the report gives findings about infection control, but it is not a full quality rating of the home.
Visitor safety
Visitors could use handwashing facilities and were given a mask if they had forgotten one. The home also offered remote visiting and supported phone calls.
“The provider had introduced 'remote' visiting and some relatives continued to face time and make telephone calls.” from the report
Safe admissions
New admissions and people returning from hospital were isolated for 14 days.
“Any people returning from hospital or newly admitted people were 'barrier nursed' for 14 days.” from the report
Testing and monitoring
People had their temperatures checked twice a day. Residents were swabbed monthly and staff were tested weekly.
“All people had their temperatures monitored twice daily and staff observed for any signs and or symptoms of infection.” from the report
Staffing
Extra staff were rostered because more support was needed while meals were provided in bedrooms and lounges.
“The provider had rostered additional staff on shift as more input had been required providing meals in bedrooms and lounges. The home was well staffed.” from the report
Infection control leadership
A clinical lead coordinated infection control information. The registered manager and deputy had received extra training, which was then shared with staff.
“There was a clinical lead who coordinated all the IPC information.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How often are people and staff tested now, and what happens when someone has symptoms or a positive test?
- 02How do you manage isolation for new admissions and people returning from hospital?
- 03How can relatives visit in person or remotely, and what infection control rules must visitors follow?
- 04How often do staff receive infection prevention and control training?
- 05How do you make sure there are enough staff when people need meals or other support in their bedrooms and lounges?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic, and the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 September 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.
What inspectors found, April 2019
The Old Hall was rated Outstanding in all five areas; inspectors found exceptionally kind, safe and personalised care.
Inspectors visited over three days between 29 January and 5 February 2019. The first visit was unannounced. They observed care, spoke with people, relatives and staff, and checked care records, medicines, recruitment files and quality checks.
The home was rated Outstanding overall and in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found people were treated with great kindness and respect. Staff supported choice, independence, health, nutrition and personal interests in highly individual ways.
The home had made further improvements since the previous inspection. These included more well-being staff, better facilities for people living with dementia, changes to medicines systems, and new ways to learn from incidents and support people's physical and mental health.
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives consistently described staff as exceptionally kind. Inspectors also saw patient and respectful interactions that protected people's dignity.
“At all times during our inspection we observed staff interacting with people with patience, kindness and care.” from the report
Strong staffing and safety
The provider had increased staffing, including a separate well-being team. This gave care staff more time to meet physical needs and helped people receive prompt support.
“The provider's significant investment in additional staffing resources meant people's physical and emotional needs were met in a truly holistic way.” from the report
Personalised care planning
The home gathered detailed information about each person's life, preferences and needs before and after admission. Staff used this information to shape daily care.
“The care plans we reviewed described, often in people's own words, their life history and individual needs and preferences in a very high level of detail.” from the report
Activities and independence
People were supported to take part in hobbies, household tasks and community activities. The report describes these opportunities as helping people's confidence, health and well-being.
“People were actively involved in many aspects of the running of the home and had the opportunity to participate in a rich variety of one-to-one and communal activities” from the report
Food, drink and health support
People could choose what and when to eat and drink. Staff monitored nutrition and hydration closely and worked with health professionals when specialist support was needed.
“The provider placed a very high emphasis on ensuring people were properly nourished and hydrated.” from the report
Daily notes storage
minorInspectors raised feedback about how daily care notes were stored. The manager took immediate action during the inspection to store them appropriately.
“Reflecting feedback from our inspector, the registered manager took immediate action to ensure people's daily care notes were also stored appropriately when not in use.” from the report
- 01How do you make sure the increased well-being staffing is still available across the week?
- 02How would you assess and manage my relative's specific risks, such as falls, choking, dehydration or pressure ulcers?
- 03How do you record and review my relative's food and fluid intake if they are at risk of malnutrition or dehydration?
- 04How would you support my relative to keep their hobbies, routines, choices and independence after moving in?
- 05How are daily care notes now stored and kept confidential?
This was a comprehensive inspection of the care home and all five CQC areas; the day care service in the same building was not regulated by CQC. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 April 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. The report was longer than we could read in one go; the later sections may not be reflected.
Every inspection of The Old Hall
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Outstanding rating throughout.
- September 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- April 2019Outstandingstayed OutstandingSafe: OutstandingEffective: OutstandingCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- January 2016OutstandingSafe: GoodEffective: OutstandingCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- September 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 21 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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9 live-in carers within about an hour of Lincolnshire
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.
8 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Martin was more than a carer, he managed the home and became my uncle's best friend, enriching his life during his last few years.”
“Magda was always positive and proactive about trying new things to keep dad busy. She also introduced new ideas for keeping dad healthy.”
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.