CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Windsor Court Residential Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, August 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that the home had suitable infection prevention and control measures.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 9 August 2021. Inspectors checked how the home was prepared to prevent and control coronavirus infections.
Inspectors were assured about visitor safety, social distancing, admissions, PPE, testing, cleaning, outbreak planning and infection control policies. The home had PPE stations, extra cleaning schedules and a visiting area for relatives.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the inspection did not give an overall quality rating or ratings for the other four CQC questions.
Infection control checks
The home used regular spot checks and staff competency checks to support good infection control practice.
“Regular spot checks and competency checks were made to ensure staff continued to follow best practice.” from the report
PPE and cleaning
There was plenty of PPE, with stations around the home. Extra cleaning schedules covered surfaces that people touched regularly.
“Additional cleaning schedules had been introduced to ensure robust measures to reduce infection risks, including the cleaning of any regular touchpoint surfaces.” from the report
Contact with relatives
Staff supported people to keep in touch with friends and relatives by telephone and video calls. An outdoor visiting area had also been set up.
“Staff supported people to make regular telephone and video calls.” from the report
Testing and training
The provider took part in regular COVID-19 testing for people and staff. Staff had training on infection control, COVID-19 and PPE.
“Staff participated in various training sessions around infection control, COVID-19 and using PPE.” from the report
Items needing removal
minorInspectors found some items that could not be cleaned effectively. The registered manager said these had been removed after the inspection.
“Some items that could not be effectively cleaned needed removing.” from the report
- 01Have all items that could not be cleaned effectively been removed, and how do you check this now?
- 02How often do you carry out spot checks and staff competency checks on PPE and infection control?
- 03How are visitors currently tested, supported with handwashing and kept safe when entering the home?
- 04How often are PPE supplies, cleaning schedules and infection control policies reviewed?
- 05How do residents currently keep in contact with relatives when visits are limited?
This was an announced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; the other CQC questions and an overall quality rating were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 August 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 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with quality systems much improved since the previous inspection.
Inspectors made an unannounced visit on 18 September 2018. They spoke with people living in the home, relatives and staff. They reviewed care plans, recruitment records, medicine records, staffing information and audits, and observed care.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safer medicine management, suitable risk assessments, kind staff and care plans that reflected people's individual needs.
The report says the home had improved since December 2017. Earlier concerns about medicines, risk records, food and care plans had been addressed. The new management team had introduced audits and action plans, although one outside-area audit was not in place during the visit and was provided the following day.
Improved safety
Medicine procedures, risk assessments and monitoring records had improved since the previous inspection. Staff understood safeguarding and inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs.
“At this inspection we found that the provider had made the required improvements.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors saw staff spending time with people, listening to them and protecting their privacy and dignity. People and relatives spoke positively about the care.
“We observed staff patiently talking to people and spending time with people.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans recorded people's routines, likes, dislikes and choices. Staff knew people well and supported individual interests and relationships.
“We found that peoples care plans were now up to date, relevant and person-centred which meant that their support was tailored to their individual needs.” from the report
Food and activities
The dining experience had improved, including the presentation of pureed food. People were offered choices, regular drinks and a range of activities and outings.
“We found that people's dining experience had improved with the cook presenting food that was much more appetising for people who required pureed diets.” from the report
Stronger management
The new management team had introduced audits, meetings, feedback systems and action plans. Staff reported that the home was more organised and improvements had been made.
“Since the last inspection the service had appointed a new management team.” from the report
Outside-area checks
minorDuring the inspection there was no audit recording checks on maintenance needed in the outside area. The provider supplied an audit the next day, so this was a minor shortfall rather than a current breach.
“However, during our inspection we found that the provider did not have an audit in place to record any checks on maintenance required of the outside area.” from the report
- 01How do you now check that medicines, including as-required and topical medicines, are recorded and given safely?
- 02How are staffing levels decided at busy times, and what happens if people's needs change?
- 03How often are care plans and risk assessments reviewed, and how are relatives involved?
- 04What activities and outings are currently available for someone with my relative's interests and abilities?
- 05How do you audit maintenance and safety checks in the outside area?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions and the overall quality of the care home. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 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 Windsor Court Residential Home
3 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- August 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Windsor Court Residential Home →
- October 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Windsor Court Residential Home →
- February 2018Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- December 2015GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 16 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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45 live-in carers within about an hour of Stockton-on-Tees
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 £1,190 a week. 40 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“I found Alison to be kind , caring helpful concencious... Alison has a heart of gold”
“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.”
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.