CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Towans Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Requires improvement
- Inspectors were assured about the home's infection prevention and control arrangements. They identified that regular lateral flow device testing was not being used for staff and visitors in line with guidance.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, March 2021
The Towans Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found mostly good infection control, but COVID-19 testing arrangements needed improving.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 22 February 2021. It looked only at infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors found that a recent COVID-19 outbreak was under control. Residents and staff had tested negative at the time of the visit. Staff used suitable protective equipment, and the home had systems for hand hygiene, distancing, visitor controls, safe admissions and isolating areas.
The home carried out weekly PCR testing for staff and monthly testing for residents. However, it was not carrying out regular lateral flow device testing for staff and visitors as required by guidance. The provider said this would be introduced immediately.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the inspection did not give a Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate rating, and it did not assess all five areas of care.
Outbreak management
The recent COVID-19 outbreak was under control, and all residents and staff had tested negative at the time of inspection.
“The provider had an outbreak of COVID-19 in the home. This was now under control.” from the report
Use of protective equipment
Staff had infection control training, used suitable protective equipment and changed it when moving between rooms.
“We saw staff wearing appropriate PPE and changing their PPE when moving from room to room.” from the report
Safe admissions
The home had arrangements for negative COVID-19 tests, isolation after admission and isolating new residents' belongings.
“The provider told us no one would be admitted without a negative COVID-19 test first” from the report
Support for contact
Most visits were stopped to reduce infection risk, but the home supported visits for people receiving end of life care and helped residents keep in touch using technology.
“We support people to use phones and other technology to keep in touch.” from the report
Lateral flow testing
needs fixingThe home was not using regular lateral flow device testing for staff and visitors. Inspectors said this did not follow COVID-19 testing guidance, although the provider agreed to introduce it immediately.
“The provider was not using regular COVID-19 LFD testing for staff and visitors, this was not in line with COVID-19 testing guidance.” from the report
- 01Have regular lateral flow device tests for staff and visitors now been introduced?
- 02How are visitors currently asked to wash their hands, wear protective equipment and maintain social distancing?
- 03What arrangements are used if there is another infection outbreak, including separating floors or areas?
- 04What testing and isolation arrangements apply to a person moving into the home?
- 05Can you show me the home's current infection prevention and control policy?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control only; it did not assess Effective, Caring, Responsive or Well-led, and the service was not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 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.
What inspectors found, October 2017
The Towans Care Home was rated Good overall, but inspectors found that safety required improvement because of gaps in medicines, catheter care and staff checks.
This was an unannounced inspection on 16 and 18 August 2017. The inspectors spoke with people living at the home, visitors, staff and health professionals. They also checked care records, medicines, staff files, training, accidents and the home's quality checks.
The home was rated Good overall, as well as for Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People were described as receiving kind, personalised care. Staff supported people's independence, choices, food and healthcare needs. Activities reflected people's interests, and complaints were dealt with in a timely way.
Safe was rated Requires Improvement. Inspectors found risks around storing one person's medicines, staff competency checks for medicines, catheter care training, and incomplete employment histories for three staff. The manager took action during or shortly after the inspection to address these issues.
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives described staff as kind, helpful and caring. Inspectors saw that privacy, dignity and personal choices were respected.
“People and their relatives told us, and we observed that staff were kind and patient.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans reflected people's needs and wishes. Families were involved, and personal life histories and memory boxes helped staff understand people better.
“People's care plans reflected their needs and wishes.” from the report
Activities and choice
The home provided activities linked to people's hobbies and interests, including one-to-one activities, group events and opportunities to reminisce.
“People were able to participate in a range of activities. These were tailored to people's interests.” from the report
Staffing and risk planning
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's care needs and support social contact. Risk assessments helped people remain independent while reducing known risks.
“There were enough suitable staff to meet people's needs and to spend some time socialising with them.” from the report
Catheter care training
seriousMost staff said they carried out catheter care without suitable training. Inspectors said this created a risk of infections spreading. The home contacted district nurses and training providers after the inspection.
“However, most staff told us they completed this task without suitable training. This meant there was a risk of infections spreading.” from the report
Medicines checks
seriousOne person did not initially have a secure place to store their medicines. A staff member had also observed and signed for medicines without the required training or competency check.
“One person who was administering their own medicines did not have a secure place to store them.” from the report
Staff employment histories
needs fixingThree staff files did not contain a full employment history because the application form only asked for ten years. The manager said the form would be changed and full histories sought.
“However, we found three members of staff did not have a full employment history in line with current legislation.” from the report
Incident notification
needs fixingThe home had not told the CQC about one incident where the police had been called to keep people safe. The notification was sent after the inspection.
“However, on one occasion they had not informed CQC about an incident where the police had been called to keep people safe.” from the report
- 01Have all staff who provide catheter care now completed suitable training, and how is their competence checked?
- 02How are medicines stored for people who manage their own medicines, and have all staff who handle or observe medicines passed competency checks?
- 03Has the home completed full employment histories for the three staff whose records were incomplete?
- 04Who is now responsible for managing the home, and has the application to become the registered manager been completed?
- 05How does the home make sure incidents that may need reporting to the CQC are identified and notified promptly?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions, with the overall rating remaining Good from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 October 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 Towans Care Home
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- October 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 18 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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