CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Thomas Henshaw Court
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was managing infection risks, visitors, PPE, testing, isolation and staffing pressures. They noted that PPE boxes could be moved and advised the home to check updated testing 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, February 2022
Targeted inspection not rated; inspectors found good infection control during a COVID-19 outbreak, with minor issues about PPE access and staff testing.
The inspection took place on 13 January 2022 and was announced with 24 hours’ notice. It was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, including how the home was managing COVID-19 staffing pressures.
Seven people living in the home had tested positive for COVID-19. The home stopped new admissions until the outbreak had ended, supported people during isolation and helped relatives keep in touch through calls and dedicated staff support.
Inspectors were assured that the home had enough PPE, checked visitors’ tests and vaccination status, followed social distancing and hygiene measures, and used separate arrangements for people in isolation. They noted that PPE boxes could be moved, which might delay access in an emergency, and advised the home to check updated staff testing guidance.
The home was inspected but not rated. This was not a full assessment of all five areas of care, so it does not provide an overall Good or Requires Improvement rating.
Managing the outbreak
The home stopped new admissions while people tested positive and supported people and relatives through isolation arrangements.
“The service had made the decision that until none of the people living in the service were testing negative for coronavirus no new admissions would be undertaken.” from the report
Visiting controls
Visitors had to show a COVID pass and a recent negative test. The home recorded these checks and supported essential carers to visit.
“All visitors must present a COVID pass and a confirmation of a negative test undertaken within 24 hrs on entry to the building.” from the report
PPE and hygiene
Inspectors found enough PPE and saw arrangements to separate staff, cleaning, laundry and food services for people in isolation.
“There was enough PPE available for staff and visitors.” from the report
Staff vaccination checks
The home monitored staff vaccination status, including booster vaccinations, and checked visiting professionals.
“Checks were in place and logs of staff vaccination status including boosters were recorded and monitored.” from the report
PPE may not always be immediately accessible
needs fixingInspectors found that PPE boxes outside isolation bedrooms could be moved. This could make PPE less easy to access during an emergency.
“However, those boxes can and in one instance be moved meaning that easy availability to PPE in the event of an emergency for the person isolating could be disrupted.” from the report
Staff testing guidance needed checking
minorStaff testing was in place, but inspectors advised the home to check the latest guidance, which recommended lateral flow tests three times a week.
“We advised the service to check the latest guidance which recommended testing for LFT for staff three times a week.” from the report
- 01How have you made sure PPE outside isolation rooms cannot be moved or become difficult to access?
- 02Have you changed staff testing so that lateral flow tests are carried out three times a week, as advised?
- 03What are your current rules for visitors, including testing, vaccination checks and essential carers?
- 04How do you manage new admissions when there is an infection outbreak?
- 05How do you make sure agency staff are not working across multiple care settings?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and COVID-19 staffing pressures; it was not a full inspection of all five key questions and the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 February 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, October 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, caring and personalised support, but the lift broke down regularly.
This was an unannounced inspection on 10 September 2018. The inspector spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff, a manager and a visiting professional. They reviewed care records, recruitment files, medicines records and other documents.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found suitable staff checks, safe medicines systems, trained staff and enough staff to meet people's needs.
People were involved in their care and had choices about routines, activities, food and how they spent their time. Staff knew people's preferences and supported them to stay involved in the local community.
The home had an overall rating of Good, the same as at the previous inspection in June 2016. Inspectors did note that the lift broke down regularly, affecting access to communal areas and sometimes meaning people ate in their rooms.
Safe medicines
Medicines were stored securely and staff administering them had been trained and assessed as competent. Records were complete, including checks on controlled medicines.
“Medication administration recording charts (MARs) were completed in full.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans recorded people's routines, histories, preferences and interests. Key workers supported people with activities in the local community.
“Care plans contained a 'My Living Story' document, this recorded information such as people's life history, their preferred name, favourite type of music and what was important to them.” from the report
Kind and respectful support
Inspectors saw warm interactions and found that staff knew people well. People were supported to make choices and maintain dignity and independence.
“We observed positive and warm interactions between staff and the people they were supporting.” from the report
Activities and community links
People could take part in varied activities, trips, holidays and events with other services and local organisations. Support was adapted for communication and sensory needs.
“People had a choice regarding how they spent their day and were supported by staff to access the local community.” from the report
Listening to feedback
The home used meetings and questionnaires to hear from people and relatives. Suggestions were acted on, including creating a remembrance book.
“Regular meetings were also held for people living at the service, we looked at minutes for past meetings and saw that people chose what topics they wanted to discuss, for example, ideas for activities, holidays and menu options.” from the report
Recurring lift breakdowns
needs fixingPeople said the lift broke down regularly. This could prevent access to the dining room and lounge, meaning some people had to eat in their rooms.
“People we spoke to told us that the lift broke down on a regular basis.” from the report
- 01How often has the lift broken down since this inspection, and what action has been taken with the external maintenance contractor?
- 02If the lift is unavailable, how will my relative access the dining room, lounge and activities?
- 03How will you record and review my relative's routines, preferences, communication needs and interests?
- 04What activities would be available for my relative, including activities outside the home and in the local community?
- 05How would you involve my relative and our family if their care needs or capacity to make decisions changed?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC areas; the previous inspection in June 2016 had also rated the home Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 31 October 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 Thomas Henshaw Court
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- October 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 25 November 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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38 live-in carers within about an hour of Sefton
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 £1,270 a week. 34 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during the night.”
“It was clear that she genuinely cared and her warm approach really helped put our minds at ease.”
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.