CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Bay House Care Ltd
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found enough suitable staff, safe recruitment, appropriate risk assessments and generally safe medicines practice, although declined medicines records had not always been completed correctly.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had an established management team, effective quality checks and open communication with people, relatives, staff and other professionals. Feedback was gathered and used to make changes.
What inspectors found, April 2023
Bay House Care Ltd was rated Good; inspectors found safe care and strong management, with a few issues corrected during the visit.
This was an unannounced, focused inspection on 17 and 18 April 2023. One inspector reviewed records, medicines, staff recruitment, the building and infection control. They spoke with people living there, staff, visitors and healthcare professionals.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe recruitment, suitable risk assessments and safe premises. They also found that people felt safe and that managers listened to feedback and checked the quality of care.
Inspectors found that the system for recording declined medicines had not always been followed. They also found that the reason for offering one person a pureed diet needed to be clearer. Both issues were dealt with immediately, and the manager provided an action plan.
People felt safe
People and relatives told inspectors they felt safe and well supported. Staff understood how to recognise and report abuse.
“I feel safe here, the staff are very kind.” from the report
Enough trained staff
Staffing levels were reviewed according to people's needs. Inspectors saw that staff were available and had the training and checks needed for their roles.
“There were enough staff to support people safely.” from the report
Safe premises
The home was clean, comfortable and well maintained. Safety checks covered the building and equipment used to care for people.
“The premises were clean, comfortable, and well maintained.” from the report
Good management
Managers had clear responsibilities and used audits, meetings and feedback to identify improvements. Staff said they were supported and valued.
“There were organisational quality assurance processes being used effectively to monitor and improve the service.” from the report
Working with professionals
The home worked with healthcare professionals involved in people's care and followed their advice.
“When they have asked for advice, they ask questions and follow our guidance, pleasure to work with them.” from the report
Declined medicines records
needs fixingThe process for recording when people declined medicines had not been followed consistently. Inspectors said this was dealt with immediately and there was no impact on people at that time.
“the system used for declined medicines had not been followed consistently.” from the report
Pureed diet rationale
needs fixingInspectors found that the reason one person was offered a pureed diet was not clear enough. This was addressed immediately through an action plan.
“a clear rationale for a person being offered a pureed diet.” from the report
One care plan needed improvement
minorA minor improvement was needed in one person's care plan. It was corrected immediately and inspectors found no negative impact on the person's outcomes.
“There were some minor improvements needed regarding anindividual's care plan which were addressed immediately.” from the report
- 01How do you now record and follow up when someone declines a medicine?
- 02How are decisions about offering a pureed diet explained, recorded and reviewed?
- 03How will you make sure care plans remain accurate when a person's needs change?
- 04What were the ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive at the previous inspection?
- 05How do you use residents' and relatives' feedback to make changes to the service?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other key-question ratings were not inspected and the previous ratings were used to calculate the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 April 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, February 2022
Bay House Care Ltd was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and visiting arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 4 February 2022. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements, and whether COVID-19 staffing pressures affected care.
The home was clean and hygienic. Staff used protective equipment correctly, had COVID-19 training, and carried out regular testing. The home had plans for managing an outbreak and supporting people to isolate safely.
People were supported to keep in touch with family and friends through visits, window visits, the summerhouse, phone calls and video calls. The home also had risk assessments and a booking system for visits.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the inspection did not give an overall quality rating or a full rating for all five areas of care.
Family contact
The home used several ways to help people keep in touch with relatives and friends, including visits, phone calls and video calls.
“People were supported by staff to have visits from their friends and family in various ways throughout the pandemic.” from the report
Clean environment
The home was clean, and cleaning schedules included frequently touched areas. Hand sanitiser and protective equipment were readily available.
“The home was clean and hygienic. Cleaning schedules showed how staff had included contact areas.” from the report
Infection control training
Staff had specific COVID-19 training and refresher updates. Inspectors saw staff following correct infection prevention and control practices.
“They were seen to be following correct infection prevention and control practices (IPC).” from the report
Testing and admission checks
The home tested people and staff regularly. New arrivals needed a negative PCR test and were supported with testing and isolation arrangements.
“Regular testing for people and staff was taking place.” from the report
Outbreak planning
The home had a contingency plan for a COVID-19 outbreak. Its layout allowed people to be supported to isolate safely.
“There was a clear contingency plan for staff to follow in the event of an outbreak.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What are the current visiting arrangements, and how have they changed since the inspection in February 2022?
- 02How often are people living in the home and staff tested for infections now?
- 03How would you manage an outbreak, and how would you support a resident who could not safely isolate?
- 04How do you manage staffing pressures if staff are absent because of illness or infection?
- 05When was the visiting policy updated in line with current guidance?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 February 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.
Every inspection of Bay House Care Ltd
4 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- April 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2016Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 30 July 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.