CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at West Cotes Residential Care Home
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
What inspectors found, May 2021
Rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found kind and effective care, but safety checks and management systems were not consistently reliable.
This was a comprehensive inspection, carried out on 17 and 26 February 2021. One inspector reviewed care, medicines, staffing, recruitment and management records. They also spoke with the manager, staff and relatives.
The home was rated Good for Effective, Caring and Responsive. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines support, personalised care and respect for people's choices, privacy and dignity. People were supported to keep in touch with relatives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The overall rating was Requires Improvement because Safe and Well-led were both Requires Improvement. Staff did not always record their temperatures at the start of shifts, and some management action plans were vague. The home had improved since earlier inspections and was no longer in breach of Regulation 17 at this inspection.
Enough staff
Inspectors found there were enough staff to meet people's needs. Call bells were answered promptly and arrangements were in place to cover sickness.
“There were enough staff to meet people's needs.” from the report
Safe medicines support
Medicines were stored and administered safely. Records were accurate, and staff were regularly assessed to make sure they remained competent.
“Medicines were safely stored and administered.” from the report
Kind, respectful care
Staff got to know people and supported their choices. Inspectors found that privacy, dignity and independence were respected.
“Staff took time to get to know the people they cared for.” from the report
Family contact
During restricted visiting, people were supported to stay in touch with relatives by telephone and video calls.
“People had been supported to maintain contact with their relatives through the COVID-19 pandemic.” from the report
Temperature checks
needs fixingStaff did not consistently take and record their temperatures at the start of each shift. The manager knew about this and said action was being taken.
“However, records showed that the staff had failed to take and record their temperatures each morning.” from the report
Fluid monitoring records
minorThe fluid monitoring charts did not meet best practice guidance at the time of inspection. New forms had been prepared for future use.
“The fluid monitoring charts being used did not meet best practice guidelines.” from the report
- 01How do you now make sure every staff member's temperature is taken and recorded at the start of each shift?
- 02What firm timescales are in place for the planned improvements, including the laundry refurbishment?
- 03Are the new fluid monitoring forms now being used, and how are records checked?
- 04What activities are currently available, and which activities paused during the pandemic have been restarted?
- 05How will you show families that the improvements found at this inspection are being maintained?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions, including infection prevention and control measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 May 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, February 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found that infection-control improvements had addressed the previous breach.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 22 December 2020. The home was checked after a Warning Notice about staff not wearing personal protective equipment properly, and after a coronavirus outbreak.
Inspectors found good infection-control arrangements. These included visitor screening, suitable protective equipment, regular COVID-19 testing, enhanced cleaning, staff training and an up-to-date infection-control policy.
The home had previously breached Regulation 12 because its infection-control systems were not effective enough. At this inspection, inspectors found enough improvement and said the home was no longer in breach.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the visit only checked specific infection-control concerns and did not assess the whole service.
Infection-control arrangements
The home had an up-to-date policy, outbreak plans and systems to check that infection-control guidance was followed.
“The service's Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) policy was up to date and in line with current guidance.” from the report
Protective equipment
There were enough masks, gloves, aprons, hand sanitiser and visors, and staff were using them appropriately.
“Sufficient stocks of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) were in place including masks, gloves, aprons, hand sanitiser and visors.” from the report
Cleaning and hygiene
Inspectors found daily enhanced cleaning and a clean, hygienic environment.
“Enhanced cleaning took place daily. The environment was clean and hygienic.” from the report
Testing and admissions
Regular COVID-19 testing was in place for staff and residents, and new admissions were managed in line with government guidance.
“A regular programme of testing for COVID-19 was in place for staff and people who lived in the service.” from the report
Keeping families in touch
When visiting was restricted during the outbreak, residents were supported to contact relatives and friends by telephone and technology.
“Where restrictions on visiting had been implemented due to the outbreak, people were supported to stay in touch with relatives and friends using technology and telephone calls.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01Are staff still regularly tested for COVID-19, and how are the results managed?
- 02How do you check that staff wear PPE correctly at all times?
- 03What changes were made after the previous Regulation 12 breach and Warning Notice?
- 04How do you manage visitors and new admissions when there is an infection risk?
- 05How are residents supported to keep in touch with relatives if visiting is restricted?
This was an unannounced targeted inspection of specific infection-prevention and control concerns and did not assess the whole service or change the previous ratings. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 February 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.
Every inspection of West Cotes Residential Care Home
6 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Requires improvement rating throughout.
- May 2021Requires improvementcurrent ratingSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
Read what inspectors found at West Cotes Residential Care Home →
- February 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at West Cotes Residential Care Home →
- November 2020Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not ratedResponsive: Inspected but not ratedWell-led: Inspected but not rated
- November 2019Inadequatedown from Requires improvementSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: InadequateWell-led: Inadequate
- May 2019Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- January 2018Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvement
- October 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- January 2020
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 7 January 2020.
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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9 live-in carers within about an hour of Lincolnshire
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.
8 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Martin was more than a carer, he managed the home and became my uncle's best friend, enriching his life during his last few years.”
“Magda was always positive and proactive about trying new things to keep dad busy. She also introduced new ideas for keeping dad healthy.”
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.