CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Bath Road
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People said they felt safe, staff understood safeguarding responsibilities, and medicines and environmental risks were managed safely. Two staff raised concerns about weekend staffing levels, although inspectors found no evidence that people lacked support.
- Effective?
- Good
- People received support based on their needs, had access to healthcare and were supported by trained staff. The manager had not used the provider's pre-admission assessment, but said this would be used for future referrals.
- Caring?
- Good
- People described staff as supportive and friendly. Inspectors observed courteous, patient and kind interactions, and found that people were involved in decisions about their care.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's needs and preferences, and people were supported to maintain relationships and take part in activities. Daily records were mainly task-focused, and the managers accepted that they should contain more person-centred information.
- Well-led?
- Good
- There was a clear management structure and quality checks covered care plans, medicines and health and safety. Staff said they worked well as a team and felt able to share their views.
What inspectors found, August 2019
Bath Road was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some record-keeping and weekend staffing issues to improve.
This was an unannounced inspection on 31 July 2019. One inspector spoke with three people, the managers and four staff. Records about care, medicines, recruitment, training and quality checks were also reviewed. Feedback was received from one relative.
The home provided residential care for seven people with mental health needs. People said they felt safe and spoke positively about staff. Inspectors found medicines were managed safely, people were supported to use health services, and staff respected people's choices, privacy and independence.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This means the inspectors found people's outcomes were consistently good and that the home was managed well. The overall rating was unchanged from the previous inspection, published on 14 March 2017.
Safe medicines support
Inspectors found safe systems for receiving, storing, giving and disposing of medicines. The quantities checked matched the records.
“Medicines were managed safely. There were safe systems for the receipt, storage, administration and disposal of medicines.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People described staff as supportive and friendly. Inspectors saw staff speaking with people patiently and kindly.
“Interactions we observed between staff and people were courteous, patient and kind.” from the report
Support for independence
Staff encouraged people to build daily living skills and live as independently as they wished. One person had developed enough confidence and skills to move to more independent living.
“Staff encouraged people to be as independent as they wanted to be.” from the report
Good partnership working
The home worked with mental health and other health and social care professionals. People were supported to attend appointments and their care was coordinated between services.
“The staff team worked in partnership with key organisations including the local community mental health trust that commissioned the service, the GP practice and other health and social care professionals to provide joined up care.” from the report
Weekend staffing
needs fixingTwo staff said staffing levels could be better at weekends, when managers did not usually work and there was no cleaner. Inspectors found no evidence that people were left without enough support, but the manager agreed to review tasks and staffing.
“Two of the four staff we met said staffing levels could be better at the weekend as usually the registered and service manager did not work and there was no cleaner.” from the report
Task-focused daily records
needs fixingDaily records described what people did, but were mainly focused on tasks rather than the person's experience. The provider said records were being reviewed to make them more person-centred.
“We viewed a sample of daily progress records and saw staff were frequently recording what people were doing each day, but this was mainly task focused.” from the report
Pre-admission assessment
minorThe manager had not used the provider's required pre-admission assessment. After the inspection, the provider sent the assessment and said it would be completed for future referrals.
“However, the registered manager had not used the provider's pre-admission assessment.” from the report
Recruitment records
minorSome recruitment documents were held at head office rather than at the home. The manager said copies would be obtained for the service.
“Some of the recruitment records were kept at head office and the registered manager told us they would obtain copies of all recruitment documents to keep in the service.” from the report
- 01How do you make sure there are enough staff at weekends, and who covers cleaning and record-keeping tasks?
- 02What changes have been made to make daily records more person-centred rather than mainly task-focused?
- 03Are all recruitment documents now held at the home, and how can families be assured that required checks are complete?
- 04Are you using the provider's pre-admission assessment for every new referral?
- 05How will you support my relative to build independence and take part in activities they enjoy?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC questions; the previous rating was Good and all five ratings remained Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 August 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, March 2017
Bath Road was rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised support, with some work still needed on staffing, management and social activities.
Inspectors visited on 8 February 2017 without warning. They spoke with four people and staff, reviewed two care records and medicines records, and checked records about staffing, incidents, complaints and quality checks.
The home supported up to 10 people experiencing a mental health crisis. Nine people were living there during the inspection. Inspectors found that medicines and risks were managed safely, staff were trained, and people received support that reflected their needs.
People were treated with dignity and respect. Staff knew people well and supported their health, choices and contact with family. The home was also improving its building and looking for more ways to support social activities.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This means the inspectors judged the service to be meeting the relevant standards at the time of this inspection.
Safe medicines
Medicines were given as prescribed. Records were accurate, staff competency was checked, and regular audits were completed.
“People received their medicines as prescribed.” from the report
Individual support
Care plans described people's needs, interests and goals. They were reviewed regularly and used to guide staff support.
“Support plans were person centred, up to date and detailed with outcomes and actions stated to ensure people were supported to achieve as much as they could.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well, respected privacy and dignity, and supported choice and independence.
“People were supported by staff that cared about them and knew them well.” from the report
Staff training and support
Staff received relevant training, induction and regular supervision. Inspectors found that staff understood people's mental health and decision-making needs.
“Staff received relevant training and this was kept updated.” from the report
Improved safety
The report says earlier problems with medicines and fire safety had been addressed. Checks, evacuation drills and personal emergency evacuation plans were in place.
“People were protected from fire risks as there were regular checks on alarms and equipment.” from the report
No registered manager
needs fixingThere was no registered manager in post when inspectors visited. A manager was in place and had applied to become registered.
“There was not a registered manager in post.” from the report
Permanent staffing
needs fixingThe home was still recruiting to vacant permanent posts. It used regular agency staff in the meantime, although inspectors judged staffing levels to be safe.
“The service was continuing to work on recruiting to vacant posts and in the meantime took measures to ensure temporary staff were of a good standard.” from the report
Social activities
minorThe home recognised that people needed more opportunities to take part in activities of their choice and avoid social isolation. Plans included exploring community resources and education sessions.
“The service recognised that further progress was needed to encourage people to engage with a variety of social activities of their choice to avoid social isolation.” from the report
Building work
minorWindows, kitchens, laundry facilities and bathrooms were being improved. Further decorating and new flooring were planned after the building work.
“The service was in the process of having improvements made.” from the report
- 01Has the manager now become registered with the CQC?
- 02How many permanent staff vacancies remain, and how often are temporary staff used?
- 03What activities are currently available to help people avoid social isolation?
- 04Have the planned window, kitchen, bathroom, laundry, decorating and flooring improvements been completed?
- 05What extra training do staff now receive for people's physical health needs?
This was an unannounced inspection looking at the overall quality of the home and all five CQC questions; it also checked whether earlier breaches relating to medicines, fire safety and personalised care had been addressed. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 March 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 Bath Road
3 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- August 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- July 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 December 2010.
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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44 live-in carers within about an hour of Swindon
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 £990 to £1,280 a week. 34 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Linet became her carer and all changed, my daughter started eating, taking her medications and more important her happiness came back.”
“She was very caring, kind and patient to all his needs, she built up a wondetful rapport with him, she was dedicated and was there for him through good times as well as through the tough times”
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.