CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Bassingham Care Centre
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, November 2023
Bassingham Care Centre was rated Good; inspectors found safe care and strong management, with refurbishment still under way.
This was an unannounced, focused inspection on 30 October 2023. Inspectors looked only at Safe and Well-led. They spoke with people, relatives, managers and staff, observed care, and checked care records, risk assessments, monitoring information and staff files.
The home was rated Good overall, with Good ratings for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found people were protected from abuse, risks were assessed, medicines were managed safely and there were enough suitable staff. The home was clean and infection prevention practices were being followed.
Inspectors found an open management team with quality checks in place. Care plans were individualised and up to date. The building is old, but an ongoing refurbishment plan was in place. The other three key question ratings were not reassessed and were carried over from the previous inspection.
Safe staffing
Inspectors found there were enough suitable staff to meet people's needs. People said call bells were answered quite quickly, and relatives said their family members were safe and well looked after.
“People were supported by safe numbers of staff to ensure their needs were met.” from the report
Safe medicines
Medicines were administered safely and at the times people needed them. Health professionals reviewed medicines when necessary.
“People's medicines were managed safely. Staff followed safe practices when administering medicines and people received their medicines at the times they needed them.” from the report
Individual care
Care plans were up to date and described how people should be supported on both good and bad days. Staff showed good knowledge of people's needs.
“People's care plans contained information on what constituted a good or a bad day for that person and what support was required on both types of day.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The provider used audits and reviews to identify problems and track improvements. This included checks on falls, the environment and care records.
“The provider had a clear management structure that monitored the quality of care to drive improvements in service delivery.” from the report
Learning and training
The home supported additional training in areas such as end of life care and wound care. Inspectors found this helped staff support people's health needs.
“The provider had created a learning culture at the service which improved the care people received.” from the report
Older building
minorThe building is old and still needs refurbishment. The provider had a plan to maintain and improve the environment, so families should check what work remains.
“People lived in an old building and the provider had an ongoing refurbishment plan in place to maintain the environment.” from the report
- 01What refurbishment work is still planned, and could it affect my relative's room or daily life?
- 02How do you make sure care plans stay up to date when a person's needs change?
- 03How quickly are call bells usually answered, and how do you check staffing is sufficient on every shift?
- 04How are relatives' views collected when attendance at meetings is low?
- 05How do you review medicines and involve health professionals when a medicine may no longer be suitable?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings were carried over from the previous inspection published on 3 October 2017. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 November 2023 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 2017
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and responsive care, with some staffing and refurbishment pressures.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 21 August 2017, with a further date of 22 August 2017 shown in the report. Inspectors spoke with people using the service, relatives and staff. They reviewed care plans, medicine records, training records and quality checks.
The home was caring and respectful. People were supported to make choices, eat and drink enough, take part in activities and access healthcare. Inspectors found suitable staffing, safe medicine systems and care plans that described people's needs.
The home kept its previous Good rating in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors noted that recruitment could sometimes be difficult, the manager had experienced a high workload and some areas needed refurbishment.
People felt safe
People and relatives told inspectors they felt safe. Staff understood safeguarding and risks were assessed and managed.
“People continued to feel safe and staff ensured that risks to their health and safety were reduced.” from the report
Trained staff
Staff received relevant training and regular supervision. People and relatives described staff as competent.
“Staff received relevant training and felt well supported.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors observed kind relationships. Staff respected people's choices, dignity and privacy.
“There were positive and caring relationships between people and the staff who cared for them.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans described people's support needs, preferences and independence. Staff understood changes in people's needs.
“People received person-centred and responsive care from staff who had a clear understanding of their current support needs.” from the report
Open management
People, relatives and staff said the management team was approachable. The home used audits and feedback to monitor quality.
“There was an open and transparent culture which enabled people and staff to speak up if they wished to.” from the report
Recruitment pressure
minorRecruitment could sometimes be difficult because of the rural location and people's differing needs. The home used long-term agency staff, although inspectors found staffing was sufficient.
“As a result the service used long term agency staff from one agency and offered temporary living accommodation for these staff.” from the report
Some areas needed refurbishment
minorInspectors saw that some parts of the home needed refurbishment. An ongoing refurbishment and redecoration programme was in place.
“we saw some areas of the service had been refurbished and other were in need of refurbishment” from the report
- 01How do you maintain safe staffing levels when recruitment is difficult?
- 02How much of the refurbishment and redecoration programme has now been completed?
- 03What support is currently in place for the registered manager's workload?
- 04How are agency staff introduced to each person's care needs and preferences?
- 05How are families told about changes in a person's health, care plan or daily support?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions and checking whether the home met its legal requirements. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 October 2017 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 Bassingham Care Centre
3 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- November 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 10 July 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.
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9 live-in carers within about an hour of Lincolnshire
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.
8 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Martin was more than a carer, he managed the home and became my uncle's best friend, enriching his life during his last few years.”
“Magda was always positive and proactive about trying new things to keep dad busy. She also introduced new ideas for keeping dad healthy.”
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.