CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at The Spinney Nursing Home
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found safe recruitment, adequate staffing, safeguarding training and generally safe medicines management, but recommended improvements to thickener records and infection-control maintenance.
- Effective?
- Requires improvement
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Requires improvement
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found a positive culture, supportive leadership, improved governance and regular monitoring of risks and outcomes.
What inspectors found, September 2022
Requires Improvement; inspectors rated safe and well-led as Good, but found medicines recording and some infection-control maintenance needed improvement.
This was an unannounced focused inspection after concerns about staffing, maintenance and getting timely medical input. Inspectors visited from 9 to 12 September 2022, spoke with people, relatives and staff, and checked care plans, medicines, recruitment and safety records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. People were protected by safeguarding systems, suitable staffing levels, safer recruitment and staff who understood people's needs. Inspectors also found a positive culture and better management systems.
The overall rating remained Requires Improvement. Inspectors found that staff did not always record how much thickener they added to drinks, and some damaged items would be difficult to clean properly. The other three key-question ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection because they were not inspected.
Safeguarding and recruitment
Staff understood safeguarding responsibilities. Recruitment included reference and DBS checks, and staffing numbers were judged adequate to keep people safe.
“The manager completed reference checks and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.” from the report
Positive culture
People and relatives gave positive feedback about the care. Staff said they enjoyed working at the home and felt supported by managers.
“People told us the care was of a high standard and staff went above and beyond.” from the report
Learning from incidents
The manager and nominated individual reviewed incidents and communicated changes to staff through team briefings.
“The manager had effective systems to make sure that lessons were learned if anything went wrong.” from the report
Cleaning arrangements
The home looked clean and tidy, with dedicated cleaning and laundry staff. Inspectors observed thorough cleaning during the visit.
“There were two full time cleaning staff and two laundry staff, and we observed thorough cleaning of rooms during the inspection.” from the report
Thickener records
needs fixingSome people needed thickener in drinks to reduce choking risk. Staff knew how much to use, but not everyone recorded the amount added, so inspectors could not be sure the correct amount was always given.
“However, we found that not all staff recorded how much they had added to drinks, meaning we could not be sure that everyone always had the correct amount .” from the report
Damaged surfaces and furniture
needs fixingSome items, including a broken toilet tile and scuffed communal chairs, needed repair or replacement. Inspectors said this could make proper cleaning difficult.
“However, we found some items were broken or needed replacement, such as a broken tile in a communal toilet, and scuffed chairs in communal areas, meaning it would be difficult to maintain hygiene in these areas properly.” from the report
Call-bell response
minorAlthough staffing was judged adequate for safety, some people said staff seemed busy and call bells sometimes took a while to be answered. The manager planned call-bell audits.
“Feedback from people was mixed, some people said staff seemed busy and call bells took a while to be answered.” from the report
- 01How are you checking that staff record the amount of thickener added to each person's drinks?
- 02What has been repaired or replaced since the inspection, including the broken toilet tile and scuffed communal chairs?
- 03Have call-bell audits started, and what have they shown about response times?
- 04What are the current ratings for Caring, Effective and Responsive, which were not assessed during this inspection?
- 05Has the current manager's application to become registered been completed?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other three key-question ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 September 2022 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 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 safety at The Spinney Nursing Home.
This was a targeted inspection on 20 January 2022. It looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and staffing pressures linked to COVID-19. The inspection was announced 24 hours in advance.
Inspectors found policies and procedures for infection control. They saw correct use of protective equipment, clean areas, stocked equipment stations and an organised laundry. Testing, isolation and vaccination arrangements were also in place.
Inspectors were assured that visits were being facilitated safely and that the home was managing infection risks. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Clean environment
The home was clean and hygienic. Protective equipment stations were fully stocked and staff were seen using protective equipment correctly.
“The environment was clean and hygienic throughout and fully stocked PPE stations were provided in the entrance hall and on all floors of the home.” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors found up-to-date infection control arrangements, including testing, isolation and outbreak management.
“We were assured that the provider's infection prevention and control policy was up to date.” from the report
Safe visiting
Inspectors and relatives said visits were being managed safely in line with the guidance at that time.
“Family members we spoke with confirmed safe visits for their relatives were facilitated, in accordance with current guidance.” from the report
Vaccination arrangements
The service met the requirement for non-exempt staff and visiting professionals to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Risk assessments were in place for the two staff members with exemption certificates.
“The service was meeting the requirement to ensure non-exempt staff and visiting professionals were vaccinated against COVID-19.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you managing staffing pressures linked to COVID-19 or other infections now?
- 02What are your current rules for visiting, and how do you support visits if there is an infection risk?
- 03How do you check that staff and visiting professionals meet your current vaccination or exemption requirements?
- 04How often are cleaning, PPE and laundry arrangements checked?
- 05What testing and isolation arrangements are used when people or staff may have an infection?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it did not rate the other four key questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 January 2022 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 Spinney Nursing Home
5 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has slipped, from Good to Requires improvement.
- September 2022Requires improvementcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
- January 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- June 2021Requires improvementup from InadequateSafe: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2020Inadequatedown from Requires improvementSafe: InadequateEffective: InadequateCaring: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- December 2018Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2016GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2013
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 10 October 2013.
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.