CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at 4 Mill Road
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about most infection-control arrangements, including PPE, testing, visits, cleanliness and social distancing. They were only somewhat assured that the policy and outbreak arrangements were fully effective, and identified gaps in staffing contingency plans and face-to-face training.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Requires improvement
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, January 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection-control practice but some gaps in staffing plans and practical training.
This was a targeted inspection on 14 January 2022. It looked at infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic, and asked about staffing pressures. The visit was announced 48 hours in advance.
Inspectors found several positive measures. The home was clean and free from clutter. Staff used protective equipment correctly, visits were supported, and people were helped to stay in contact with loved ones and take part in activities during lockdowns.
There were also areas needing improvement. The home needed clearer plans for running safely when staffing was affected. Some new staff had completed online infection-control training but had not yet received face-to-face training. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Clean environment
The home was clean and uncluttered. Staff also cleaned high-touch areas three times a day and recorded communal cleaning.
“The home was clean and free from clutter.” from the report
Safe infection-control measures
Staff used PPE in line with government guidance. The home also had PPE stations and posters showing staff how to put on and remove equipment.
“Staff were using PPE in line with government guidance.” from the report
Contact with loved ones
People were supported to keep in touch through visits, video calls, phone calls and window visits during the pandemic.
“People had been supported to keep in contact with their loved ones throughout the pandemic.” from the report
Activities during lockdown
Staff supported people with activities such as exercise, quizzes, arts and crafts, cooking and gardening during lockdowns.
“During the various lockdowns over the pandemic, staff had supported people with in-house activities such as Chair yoga via zoom, zoom quizzes, art and craft projects” from the report
Staffing contingency plans
needs fixingThe home needed clearer plans for maintaining the service when staffing was affected. Recruiting new staff had been difficult during the pandemic.
“The provider had a business continuity plan, however more work was needed for this to be effective at times of staffing issues.” from the report
Practical infection-control training
needs fixingSome new staff had completed online training but had not yet had face-to-face infection-control training. Inspectors discussed the need to check staff practice in person.
“The registered manager had identified that staff who were new to the team had not yet had face to face infection prevention and control training” from the report
- 01What clear contingency plans are now in place if staffing levels are affected by illness or other pressures?
- 02Have all new staff completed face-to-face infection prevention and control training?
- 03How do you check that staff can correctly put on and remove PPE in practice?
- 04How are visits and contact with relatives supported if there is another COVID-19 outbreak?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and staffing pressures; it was not a full inspection and the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 January 2022 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, July 2018
Sedgemoor & Framley is Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and responsive care, but the service was not consistently well-led.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 30 and 31 May 2018. Inspectors spoke with everyone living in the home, staff and relatives. They observed care, medicines and the home, and checked support plans, medicine records, staff files, complaints and audits.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring and Responsive. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, trained staff, support for people's choices and links with health professionals. People were supported to be independent, keep relationships and take part in activities they chose.
Well-led was rated Requires Improvement. The home had monitoring systems, but some daily records were incomplete and policies were too general. The overall rating improved from Requires Improvement at the February 2017 inspection because staffing and quality monitoring had improved.
Staffing
Inspectors found enough staff to support people safely and to help them spend their time as they wished.
“There were sufficient staff working in the home to ensure people were supported to spend their time as they wished.” from the report
Medicines
Medicines were ordered, stored, given and recorded through a reviewed system. Staff giving medicines had been trained and assessed as competent.
“The management of medicines had been reviewed and the system for ordering, storing, giving out and recording of medicines was safe.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were supported to make decisions about daily life, go out and take part in hobbies, community activities and work.
“People were supported to enjoy their interests and hobbies and activities had been arranged based on people's preferences.” from the report
Privacy and dignity
Staff supported people discreetly with personal care and respected their private space.
“People were supported discretely with their personal care to protect people's privacy and dignity.” from the report
Incomplete daily records
needs fixingSome daily logs had gaps. In particular, records did not always show how much people at risk of poor diet had eaten while away from the home.
“There were additional areas where improvements were needed included the daily logs as there were gaps.” from the report
Policies and accessible information training
needs fixingSome policies were generic and needed updating for this home. Staff had not received training on the Accessible Information Standard, although inspectors found they understood people's communication needs.
“Policies and procedures were generic and this needed to be reviewed and changes made to ensure they were appropriate to the services provided at Sedgemoor and Framley.” from the report
- 01How are you making sure daily records show what each person has eaten and drunk when they are out at a day centre or shopping?
- 02What is the timetable for completing and updating the support plans?
- 03Which policies are being reviewed, and how will you make sure they reflect this home?
- 04What training will staff receive about the Accessible Information Standard?
- 05How do you make sure there are enough familiar staff at weekends when agency staff are used?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions and the accommodation and care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 July 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 4 Mill Road
4 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- January 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- July 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- September 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvement
- March 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- February 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 4 January 2011.
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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19 live-in carers within about an hour of East Sussex
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 £1,000 to £1,400 a week. 13 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“When he point blank refused to go into hospital for a life saving blood transfusion she talked him through the situation and agreed to go in the ambulance with him and stayed until he was settled.”
“Una felt safe, secure and loved in her time with Debbie which is a gift that I am eternally grateful for.”
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.