CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Thorndale
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home managed infection risks, including visitor checks, personal protective equipment, testing, cleaning, social distancing and visits. The home was also meeting the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for non-exempt staff and visiting professionals.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, January 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good COVID-19 infection control measures during an outbreak.
This was a targeted inspection on 14 January 2022. It looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and whether COVID-19 staffing pressures were affecting the service. The inspection was announced 24 hours in advance.
Inspectors found good practice. The home followed government guidance, carried out visitor checks, used personal protective equipment safely and supported testing. Its infection control policy was up to date, and audits showed that action had been taken.
The inspection took place during an outbreak. The home used separate zones with dedicated staff, increased cleaning of frequently touched areas and an intercom system to reduce contact between staff. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall Good or Requires Improvement rating.
Visitor infection checks
The home used checks for visitors on arrival and followed current government COVID-19 guidance to reduce infection risks.
“Thorndale ensured current government guidelines in relation to COVID-19 were being followed by staff and visitors to reduce the risk of infection to people living at the home.” from the report
Up-to-date infection policy
The infection control policy was current, and audits showed that actions had been taken to maintain standards.
“The infection control policy was up to date. We reviewed audits which reflected actions had been taken to maintain the standards within the home.” from the report
Outbreak arrangements
During the outbreak, the home used separate zones and dedicated staff to reduce the risk of infection spreading between areas.
“the home was set up in zones with dedicated staff assigned to each zone to reduce the risk of cross contamination.” from the report
Reduced staff contact
The layout allowed meals to be delivered by lift, and staff used an intercom system to reduce contact between zones.
“Staff interacted with other staff using an intercom system.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are staffing pressures linked to COVID-19 being managed now?
- 02How are residents and staff separated into zones if there is another infection outbreak?
- 03What checks are carried out for visitors, and how are visits arranged during an outbreak?
- 04How do you make sure staff and visiting professionals meet the COVID-19 vaccination requirements or have an exemption?
- 05How often are infection control audits completed, and what actions have resulted from the latest audit?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 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.
What inspectors found, November 2019
Thorndale rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with a few areas for improvement.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 15 October 2019. Inspectors spoke with eight people living at the home, five relatives and 11 staff. They also observed care and checked care records, medicines, recruitment and quality records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found people were treated with respect, supported by trained staff and cared for in a clean and safe environment.
People had individual care plans, access to health professionals, activities and support with food and drink. Inspectors noted that the meal experience could be more social, the dementia-friendly environment was still being developed, and people wanted to see the registered manager more often.
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well and built compassionate relationships. Inspectors saw that privacy and dignity were maintained.
“People were treated with respect. Staff provided care and support in a caring and meaningful way.” from the report
Safe care and medicines
Risks were assessed and managed, the home was clean, and medicines were given safely. Staff recruitment checks were also completed.
“Medicines systems were well organised, and people were receiving their medicines when they should.” from the report
Good leadership and feedback
The home used audits, complaints, meetings and surveys to monitor quality and identify improvements. Staff said they felt supported.
“Regular audits were undertaken, and any shortfalls found were quickly addressed.” from the report
Mealtimes could be more social
minorInspectors said the meal experience could be improved by having more interaction between staff and people. This was discussed with the registered manager.
“The meal experience could be enhanced by more social interaction between staff and people.” from the report
Dementia-friendly environment still developing
minorSome décor in the area for people living with dementia had been removed after a fire inspection. The home had plans to develop the environment again.
“There were plans in place to develop a more dementia friendly environment again.” from the report
Residents wanted more manager contact
minorPeople knew who the registered manager was but said they wished they could see more of them. This was fed back during the inspection.
“People knew who the registered manager was and wished they could see more of them.” from the report
- 01What changes have you made to make mealtimes more social since the inspection?
- 02What has been done to develop a more dementia-friendly environment after the décor was removed?
- 03How often can residents and relatives speak with or see the registered manager?
- 04How do you check that there are enough staff at busy times and that people do not wait too long for help?
- 05How are residents and relatives' suggestions from meetings and surveys followed up?
This was an unannounced planned inspection that assessed all five key questions and looked at both the care provided and the home's premises; all five ratings were Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 November 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.
Every inspection of Thorndale
4 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- January 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- November 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2016Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 17 December 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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89 live-in carers within about an hour of North Northamptonshire
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. 76 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“If you bump into her in the night on her way to the bathroom she will still inquire how you are and if everything is alright.”
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