Agenda item

Consideration was given to the latest quarterly summary regarding Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections for services operating within the Borough (Appendix 1).  Five inspection reports were published during this period (July to September 2024 (inclusive)), with attention drawn to the following Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) contracted provider:

Providers rated ‘Good’ overall (1)

·         Roseville Care Centre had maintained its previous overall rating of ‘Good’ despite recent concerns being received by the CQC in relation to care, safeguarding, risk management, staffing, the environment, and the leadership of the home.

The remaining four reports were in relation to non-contracted providers.  Homecare agency, Kensington Home Care, received an overall rating of ‘Good’ (with all domains graded ‘Good’), whilst three dentistry services (Roseworth Dental Centre, Hardwick Dental Practice, and Grange Dental Practice) were all deemed to meet regulations.

Focus turned to the section on Provider Assessment and Market Management Solutions (PAMMS) inspections (Appendix 2), of which there were seven reports published during this period (July to September 2024 (inclusive)):

·         Four services maintained their overall rating of ‘Good’.  Of these, The White House Care Home retained its ‘Excellent’ grade in the ‘personalised care / support’ domain, Reuben Manor improved its ‘safeguarding and safety’ domain from ‘Good’ to ‘Excellent’, and Windsor Court Residential Home was again deemed ‘Good’ across all domains.  Millbeck, meanwhile, improved its ‘safeguarding and safety’ domain from ‘Requires Improvement’ to ‘Good’, but saw its ‘suitability of staffing’ domain downgraded from ‘Good’ to ‘Requires Improvement’.

·         The remaining three reports involved services which were given an overall rating of ‘Requires Improvement’.  Green Lodge and Roseworth Lodge Care Home were both downgraded from their previous overall rating of ‘Good’, whilst The Maple Care Home, despite improvements in the ‘safeguarding and safety’ domain (which was now ‘Good’), saw all other domains deemed ‘Requires Improvement’.

Commentary initially centred on those services achieving a ‘Good’ rating overall, with The White House Care Home benefitting from a stable management team which had been in place for a number of years (Members also noted their visibility within the community in facilitating activities for residents).  Given the historic issues faced by both settings, the Committee was particularly pleased to read the feedback on Reuben Manor and Windsor Court Residential Home, with officers stressing the achievements of the former in obtaining an ‘Excellent’ grade for its ‘safeguarding and safety’ domain – a level which was hard to reach given the very high bar used by the SBC Quality Assurance and Compliance (QuAC) Team.

Attention switched to local provision requiring improvement.  A change of leadership involving the recruitment of a new manager and deputy manager at Green Lodge was highlighted, as was the uncovering of issues which were now being addressed (the provider was actively engaging with SBC and was demonstrating improvement).  In terms of Roseworth Lodge Care Home, inspection outcomes were disappointing given the previous support they had received from SBC, and it was felt that failings in management were at the heart of the service’s shortcomings (which included a lack of assurance around adequate DBS checks).  In response to a Committee query around the availability of peer mentoring between care homes, Members heard that Roseworth Lodge had been referred for support from SBC Transformation Managers, but that ultimately the service needed to get better at helping itself.  The local Leadership Network, where providers worked more collaboratively, was also noted.

The outcomes from The Maple Care Home inspection were discussed, with officers commenting that the Council had faced challenges with this provider over a number of years.  A new manager was now in post which had led to increased engagement with SBC.  However, the service was close to being placed in the Responding to and Addressing Serious Concerns (RASC) process, with a required Action Plan still yet to be submitted (this was being chased).

AGREED that the CQC / PAMMS Inspection Results – Quarterly Summary (Q2 2024-2025) report be noted.