Cottenham Court Care Home

Updated 20 February 2021

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 4 February 2021 and was announced.

Updated 20 February 2021

Cottenham Court is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Cottenham Court accommodates up to 62 people in one adapted building over two floors. They provide nursing care and people who are living with dementia

We inspected the home on 7 November 2017. The inspection was unannounced. There were 54 people living in the service on the day of our inspection.

The home had a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with CQC to manage the service. Like registered providers (‘the provider’) they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

In December 2015 we conducted an inspection of the home. We rated the service as ‘good’. At this inspection we found the service remained ‘good’.

There were sufficient staff to keep people safe and meet their care and support needs. Staff worked well together in a mutually supportive way and communicated effectively, within the team and with external agencies. Training and supervision systems were in place to provide staff with the knowledge and skills they required to meet people’s needs effectively.

There was a friendly, relaxed atmosphere and staff were kind and attentive in their approach. People were provided with food and drink of good quality that met their individual needs and preferences. People were supported to take part in activities that promoted their emotional, physical and spiritual well-being.

People’s medicines were managed safely and staff worked closely with local healthcare services to ensure people had access to any specialist support they required. Systems were in place to ensure effective infection prevention and control.

People’s individual risk assessments were reviewed and updated to take account of changes in their needs. Staff knew how to recognise and report any concerns to keep people safe from harm. There was evidence of that the service learnt from significant incidents and events. Any concerns or complaints were handled effectively.

Care plans were detailed and provided staff with the current information they required to meet people's needs. They also contained detailed information of the person wishes at the end of their life

Staff supported people to make everyday decisions in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Arrangements were in place to ensure the quality of the service provided for people was regularly monitored and where needed improvements were made. We found that people who lived at the service and their visitors/relatives were encouraged to share their views and give feedback about the quality of the care and support provided.