CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Old Manor House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, suitable risk assessments and generally safe medicine systems, but recommended improvements to medicine storage.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not rated in this inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not rated in this inspection, although inspectors observed positive and caring relationships.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not rated in this inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had clear management responsibilities, regular audits and a positive, person-centred culture. The manager and staff worked with health and social care professionals.
What inspectors found, March 2023
The Old Manor House was rated Good; inspectors found safe, well-managed care, with a recommendation about medicine storage.
The inspection took place on 18 February 2023. One inspector spoke with the manager, staff, residents and relatives, and reviewed care, medicines, recruitment, training and management records.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe and Well-led were both rated Good. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, detailed risk assessments, effective infection control and systems to protect people from abuse.
Medicine systems were generally safe, but the medicine storage room was small, crowded with other equipment and difficult to keep at the right temperature. The home was asked to improve this in line with current clinical guidance. The electronic medicine records were also being checked for accuracy.
Enough staff
Inspectors found enough staff on duty to meet people's assessed needs and keep them safe.
“There were sufficient numbers of staff employed and on duty to meet people's assessed needs.” from the report
Good knowledge of residents
Staff understood people's individual care and communication needs and respected their choices.
“Management and staff were committed to their roles and had built positive and caring relationships with people.” from the report
Strong oversight
The management team used audits and regular checks to monitor the quality of care and identify improvements.
“There were effective quality assurance and auditing systems in place designed to drive improvements in the service's performance.” from the report
Safe risk management
Care plans and risk assessments were detailed and up to date, including assessments for falls, nutrition and skin care.
“Risk assessments were detailed and up to date.” from the report
Medicine storage
needs fixingThe medicine room was small, crowded with electrical equipment and had no ventilation, making its temperature difficult to control. Inspectors recommended that storage and environmental controls should meet current clinical guidance.
“We recommend the storage and environmental controls for medicines meet current clinical guidelines.” from the report
Electronic medicine records
minorThe recently introduced electronic monitoring system was still being reviewed to make sure its records were accurate.
“The recently introduced electronic monitoring system was being reviewed and monitored to ensure records were accurate.” from the report
- 01Has the medicine storage room been moved or improved since the inspection?
- 02How is the temperature of the medicine storage area now monitored and recorded?
- 03What checks have been completed on the electronic medicine monitoring system?
- 04How many staff are normally on duty for the number and needs of residents?
- 05How are care plans and risk assessments reviewed when a person's needs change?
This inspection rated Safe and Well-led only; Effective, Caring and Responsive were not rated in this report. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 March 2023 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, July 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe and personalised care, with some improvements needed to dementia signage and recording best-interest decisions.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection. Inspectors observed care, looked around the home, spoke with people, relatives, staff and healthcare professionals, and checked care plans, medicines records, staff files and management records.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, good training and support, personalised care plans, kind staff and effective quality checks.
There were some shortfalls. The home did not have pictorial signs to help some people living with dementia find their way around. The best-interest process for one Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards application had not been recorded. Inspectors made a recommendation about this.
Kind and respectful staff
Staff knew people well and treated them with kindness, compassion and respect. Inspectors saw patient and unhurried care.
“Staff were kind and respectful in their approach.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
The home had enough staff to meet people's needs. Medicines records showed people received their medicines as prescribed, with audits used to identify errors.
“There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of people who used the service.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans contained current information about people's needs, wishes and risks. Staff knew people well and responded to changes in their care.
“Each person had a care plan that was tailored to meet their individual needs.” from the report
Good food and healthcare support
People were offered varied meals and choices that reflected their dietary needs and preferences. Staff monitored food, drink and weight where needed, and healthcare professionals visited when required.
“People were supported to eat a healthy and varied diet.” from the report
Supportive management
Staff described good morale and felt supported by the manager. The home had regular audits, staff meetings and other checks on care quality.
“There were systems in place to assess, monitor and improve the quality of the service provided” from the report
Dementia-friendly signs
needs fixingSome people living with dementia were independently mobile, but there were no pictorial signs for rooms such as toilets and shower rooms. This meant some people needed extra support to recognise their surroundings.
“There was no pictorial signage which clearly identified specific rooms such as toilets and shower rooms.” from the report
Best-interest records
needs fixingFor one DoLS application, the home had not recorded the best-interest process beforehand. Inspectors said it was therefore unclear whether the decision was in the person's best interests and the least restrictive option.
“There was no record of the best interest process having been carried out by the registered manager, prior to the application being made.” from the report
Activities and possible isolation
minorActivities were available, but there was no activities co-ordinator and some people stayed in their rooms or were in bed. Inspectors said people who chose not to join organised activities could be at risk of isolation.
“Some people chose not to take part in organised activities and therefore could be at risk of becoming isolated.” from the report
Recording changing needs
minorStaff monitored people's health and responded to changes, but those changes were not always added to care plans.
“This meant people's changing needs were met but this was not always recorded in the care plans.” from the report
- 01What pictorial signs or other support do you now provide to help people living with dementia recognise toilets, shower rooms and other areas?
- 02How do you record best-interest decisions before making a DoLS application?
- 03How do you make sure changes in a person's health or needs are added promptly to their care plan?
- 04What activities and one-to-one support are available for people who do not join group activities or stay in their rooms?
- 05How many care staff are on duty during the day and at night, and what happens if the night carer needs help?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions, and it was the first inspection since the service re-registered under a new legal entity. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 July 2018 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 Old Manor House
2 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2018GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2018
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 24 April 2018.
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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
10 live-in carers within about two hours of Cornwall
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 £1,200 a week. 8 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“He had been a little anxious before she arrived, but has since stated that he would be very happy for her to care for him again”
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.