CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Gate
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that safeguarding, staffing, recruitment, medicines and building safety were managed well. One person's environmental safety plan needed more detail, including regular checks.
- Effective?
- Good
- Care was based on people's needs and recognised guidance. Staff had relevant training, worked with health professionals and supported people with meals, health and legal decision-making.
- Caring?
- Good
- People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff understood people's communication methods and supported choice, privacy and independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Support was personalised to people's routines, activities, meals and preferences. Care plans were regularly reviewed, although more information could have been recorded about people's goals and aspirations.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had clear person-centred values, regular audits and a focus on improvement. A registered manager was not in post, but the nominated individual managed the home daily and inspectors found appropriate management arrangements.
What inspectors found, April 2019
Aspire Respite Support Services was rated Good in all five areas, with person-centred care and a few records needing improvement.
The inspection was announced and took place on 01 March 2019. One inspector reviewed information received since the previous inspection, spoke with residents, relatives, staff and professionals, observed care, and checked care records, audits and other management records.
The home supported people with learning disabilities and behaviours that challenge. Inspectors found that people were safe, their medicines were managed properly, staff were trained and there were enough staff. People were treated with kindness, involved in their care and supported to make choices and develop independence.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This means the inspection found the service met the characteristics of a good service in all the areas reviewed. The rating was maintained from the previous inspection on 30 August 2016.
Choice and independence
People had their own living spaces and were supported to control their routines, activities and meals. Staff helped people build life skills and become more independent.
“People had maximum control over all aspects of daily life.” from the report
Safe medicines support
Medicine records, risk assessments and checks were in place. People were encouraged to take increasing responsibility for their own medicines where appropriate.
“Medicines were managed in a safe and proper way.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors saw positive relationships between staff and residents. Staff knew people well and supported their communication, dignity and privacy.
“Staff had developed good relationships with people and knew them well.” from the report
Personalised support
Each person had an individual living environment, care plan, routine and activities. Respite arrangements included updating information about people's needs at each visit.
“People received personalised care and support in line with their wishes and preferences.” from the report
One environmental safety plan needed more detail
needs fixingInspectors found that one person would benefit from a plan explaining how their flat and regular staff checks would keep them safe. The report says this was raised with management, who agreed to address it.
“We identified one person would benefit from an environmental plan detailing the measures in place to keep them safe whilst in their flat, including the need for regular staff checks on the person and their environment.” from the report
Goals were not fully recorded
minorCare plans were detailed, but inspectors said more information could have been recorded about people's goals and aspirations. The home planned monthly keyworker meetings to improve this.
“More information could have been recorded about people's goals and aspirations.” from the report
No registered manager at the inspection
needs fixingThe registered manager had left and a replacement had not yet been appointed. The nominated individual was managing the home daily, and inspectors found appropriate arrangements while recruitment continued.
“A registered manager was not in post with the last manager deregistering in October 2018.” from the report
- 01Has the environmental plan for the person identified in the report been completed, and how are regular safety checks recorded?
- 02How are each person's goals and aspirations recorded and reviewed now that monthly keyworker meetings were planned?
- 03Has a registered manager been appointed since this inspection, and who is responsible for the home day to day?
- 04How is information about a respite person's care and support needs updated at each visit?
- 05What structured analysis is now used to identify patterns and trends after incidents?
This was a planned inspection covering all five key questions, with observations, discussions and checks of selected records and management information. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 April 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.
What inspectors found, September 2016
Aspire Respite Support Services was rated Good; inspectors found safe, caring and personalised support, with no breaches reported.
The inspection was announced and took place on 30 August 2016. Inspectors spoke with a person using the home, relatives, staff, managers and social care professionals. They observed care and checked care records, medicines, staff files and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicines procedures, suitable recruitment checks and good support with health, meals, communication and activities.
People were involved in their care and were supported to make choices and build independence. Relatives spoke positively about the care and communication. There was no registered manager at the time, but the provider was looking to appoint one and an acting manager was running the home.
Personalised support
Care plans reflected people's routines, preferences, communication needs and chosen activities. Staff supported people to build independence and take part in everyday tasks.
“People experienced care that was empowering, supportive and individual to their needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors saw positive, relaxed interactions. Staff encouraged people to speak for themselves and supported their dignity.
“We observed staff interacting with people in a positive encouraging way.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
There were enough staff to meet people's needs, including two-to-one support when required for community activities. Staff were trained and medicines were audited.
“There were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff to meet people's needs.” from the report
Good family communication
Relatives were involved in care planning and reviews. The home told families about changes in care and provided accessible information.
“Communication with relatives was very good.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The home checked accidents, incidents, medicines, health and safety and infection control. Improvement actions were followed up.
“The provider had effective and robust systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided.” from the report
No registered manager
minorThere was no registered manager when inspectors visited. The provider was actively looking to appoint one, while a nominated individual acted as manager.
“The service did not have a registered manager at the time of the inspection.” from the report
- 01Has a registered manager now been appointed, and who is responsible for the home day to day?
- 02How will you support my relative to communicate their choices, especially if they communicate in limited or non-verbal ways?
- 03If my relative needs two staff in the community, how will you make sure this support is always available?
- 04How will you manage and review medicines given only when needed, such as pain relief or medicine for agitation?
- 05How will my relative and our family be involved in care plan reviews, activities and meal choices?
This was an announced inspection of the overall quality of the home and all five CQC questions, including observations, records, medicines, staff files and quality systems. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 September 2016 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 The Gate
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 26 April 2013.
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.
Weigh the report against the rest
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What to check when you visit
At least 99 live-in carers within about an hour of Barnsley
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 £1,260 a week. 82 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Carla has been a god send with the implementation of bringing mum back home from respite care.”
“Ivy was very kind and gentle in all her dealings with my late mother. They got on very well and were able to share a joke and a laugh.”
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.