CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Westoe Grange Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home used PPE safely, followed shielding and social distancing rules, supported safe admissions and managed infection risks. The Safe question was not given a rating.
- 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, March 2021
Westoe Grange Care Home was rated Good overall; inspectors found strong infection control, but Safe was inspected without a rating.
Inspectors visited on 10 February 2021. This was an announced, targeted inspection during the coronavirus pandemic. It looked at infection prevention and control in the home.
Inspectors found enough suitable PPE, stored hygienically and safely. Staff used PPE and social distancing appropriately. Staff understood how to support people who had COVID-19 or symptoms.
The home had training in infection prevention and control for all staff, including catering and housekeeping staff. Inspectors were assured about visitors, admissions, testing, hygiene, outbreak management and the infection control policy.
The overall rating was Good. However, this inspection did not give a rating for Safe. It was a focused check of infection control rather than a full review of every aspect of care.
PPE supplies and storage
The home had enough suitable PPE, and it was stored hygienically and securely. Separate areas were available for putting on, removing and disposing of PPE.
“The home had sufficient supplies of appropriate PPE which was stored hygienically and kept safe.” from the report
Staff infection control training
All staff groups, including catering and housekeeping staff, had completed infection prevention and control training.
“All staff, including catering and housekeeping staff had undertaken training in infection prevention and control.” from the report
Staff understanding
Staff showed that they understood how to support people who had tested positive for COVID-19 or had symptoms.
“Staff demonstrated a good knowledge of how to support people that had tested positive or were showing symptoms of COVID-19.” from the report
Infection control arrangements
Inspectors were assured about visitor safety, safe admissions, testing, hygiene, outbreak management and the home's infection control policy.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you make sure there is always enough PPE, and how is it stored?
- 02How do you check that all staff, including catering and housekeeping staff, keep up to date with infection prevention and control training?
- 03What checks are made before new residents are admitted, and how are residents and staff tested?
- 04How would you respond if someone in the home developed COVID-19 symptoms or tested positive?
- 05When was the infection prevention and control policy last reviewed?
This was an announced, targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; Safe was inspected but not rated, and the report did not fully assess all aspects of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 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, March 2019
Westoe Grange Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe care, with some records needing improvement.
The inspection was unannounced on 6 December 2018, followed by an announced visit on 9 December 2018. One inspector spoke with people, relatives, staff and visiting professionals, observed care, looked around the building and checked care, medicines, staffing and management records.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found suitable staffing, safe medicines management, detailed care plans, regular staff training and kind, respectful care.
There were some smaller shortfalls. Fluid intake records had gaps for two people, and one kitchen fridge was sometimes above the recommended temperature. The lift was out of service during the inspection, but the provider later confirmed it had been repaired.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw staff being attentive, warm and respectful. People were supported with personal care and meals in a discreet and unhurried way.
“Throughout the inspection, we saw that staff were attentive, kind and caring to the people they cared for with lots of laughter and genuine affection.” from the report
Safe medicines and recruitment
Medicines were checked, stored, given and disposed of safely. Recruitment checks were completed before staff started work.
“Medicines were managed safely, including the receipt, storage, handling, administration and disposal.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans included people's histories, preferences, religious beliefs and likes and dislikes. Relatives and people were involved where possible.
“Care plans we reviewed were very detailed and person-centred.” from the report
Regular oversight
The managers carried out regular checks on care plans, medicines, infection control, health and safety, accidents and incidents. Actions were recorded and followed up.
“A review of subsequent audits confirmed that those actions identified had been carried out.” from the report
Gaps in fluid records
needs fixingInspectors found gaps in two people's daily fluid records, including one person who had a recommended daily intake. The deputy manager agreed to review the records and take immediate action.
“We identified gaps in the recording on two people's charts, one of whom had been recommended to have a fluid intake of 1800mls per day.” from the report
Kitchen fridge temperature
needs fixingRecords showed that one fridge was sometimes above the recommended safe temperature. The chef agreed to buy a more reliable thermometer.
“However, a review of records showed that for one fridge (on some days ) the temperature exceeded the recommended safe temperature of no more than 8 degrees.” from the report
- 01How are daily fluid amounts recorded now, especially for people who have a recommended intake?
- 02How often are fridge temperatures checked, and what happens if a temperature is above the safe level?
- 03Has the lift remained reliable since it was repaired?
- 04How are care plans reviewed with people and their relatives when needs change?
- 05What activities and one-to-one support are currently available for someone with dementia?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, the premises and the care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 March 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 Westoe Grange Care Home
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2021Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2019Good
- December 2017
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 8 December 2017.
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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39 live-in carers within about an hour of South Tyneside
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Most charge £950 to £1,140 a week. 34 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in the night.”
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