CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Bedford Charter House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough suitably trained staff, good safeguarding practice, appropriate risk assessments and safe medicines support. Infection prevention and control arrangements were also considered effective.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. The rating from the previous comprehensive inspection was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. The rating from the previous comprehensive inspection was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. The rating from the previous comprehensive inspection was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found positive leadership, regular quality checks, timely responses to complaints and an improvement plan based on feedback from people, relatives and staff.
What inspectors found, August 2021
Rated Good overall; a focused inspection found safe care and good leadership after staffing concerns, with no evidence that people were at risk of harm.
The home provided personal care for 53 people aged 65 and over, although it could support up to 72 people. Inspectors visited unannounced on 20 and 23 July 2021. They spoke with people, relatives and staff, observed care, and checked care, medicine, staff and management records.
The inspection was prompted by concerns about staffing levels and whether people's needs were being met. Inspectors found enough suitably trained staff, safe medicines support, good infection control and appropriate checks on risks. They found no evidence that people were at risk of harm from the concerns that led to the inspection.
The home was rated Good overall, with Safe and Well-led also rated Good. This was a focused inspection of those two areas. The other areas were not inspected during this visit, so earlier ratings were used when calculating the overall rating.
Enough trained staff
People, relatives and staff said there were enough staff, and inspectors saw that people did not wait a long time for support.
“People, relatives and the staff team told us that there were enough staff to safely support people.” from the report
Safe medicines support
Staff were trained and checked as competent to give medicines. Records and stock were audited, and guidance was available for medicines given when needed.
“Staff were trained to administer medicines and had their competency to do this checked regularly.” from the report
Positive management
The management team was visible and approachable. It used audits, feedback and an improvement plan to monitor and improve the home.
“The provider and registered manager promoted a positive culture.” from the report
Involving relatives
People and relatives were involved in care planning and feedback. Relatives received monthly updates about their family member.
“The registered manager sent monthly updates to relatives about their family member and how they had been over the month.” from the report
Staffing concerns prompted the inspection
minorCQC received concerns about staffing levels and whether people's needs were being met. Inspectors found no evidence of harm and found staffing sufficient during this visit, but the provider was reviewing staff deployment.
“We received concerns in relation to staffing levels and the way in which people using the service were being supported to have their needs met.” from the report
- 01What changes have you made to staff deployment since the concerns about staffing levels?
- 02How do you check that there are enough staff at evenings and weekends?
- 03How are medicines given when needed, and how do you record and review their use?
- 04What minor improvements did inspectors raise, and have all the actions in the improvement plan been completed?
- 05How will relatives continue to receive updates and be involved in care plan reviews?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other key question ratings came from previous comprehensive inspections. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 August 2021 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 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection prevention and control arrangements.
This was a targeted inspection on 18 February 2021. It looked at how well the home was prepared to prevent and control coronavirus infection. The inspection was announced.
The home was closed to visitors at the time. Inspectors found plans for safer visits when they resumed, including personal protective equipment, handwashing facilities and separate visiting areas. Window visits and video calls were also available.
Inspectors found that the home was clean and well ventilated. Staff used protective equipment correctly and people and staff received regular coronavirus tests. The home had arrangements for social distancing, shielding, safe admissions and managing any outbreak.
The service was inspected but not rated. Only infection prevention and control was examined during this visit, so the report does not give ratings for the other areas of care.
Safer visiting plans
Although visits were stopped at the time, the home had plans for safer visits to restart. It also offered window visits, video calls and online access to some care records for relatives.
“Alternatives to face to face visits were also in place, including window visits and video calls.” from the report
Social distancing
Staff were allocated to particular areas and used dedicated routes. People had single rooms with their own bathrooms, and new admissions were asked to isolate for 14 days.
“Several steps had been taken to promote social distancing and shielding for people and staff within the building.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean and well ventilated, with a safe process for managing people's laundry.
“The home was clean, well ventilated and there was a safe process to manage people's laundry.” from the report
Correct use of protective equipment
Staff were seen wearing protective equipment correctly and had received infection control training.
“We observed staff wearing PPE correctly. They had received training in relation to infection control and the safe use of PPE.” from the report
Testing and outbreak planning
People and staff received regular coronavirus tests. Inspectors found that the provider understood current infection control guidance and had plans to prevent or manage an outbreak.
“The provider was monitoring key aspects of infection protection control (IPC) to promote people's safety.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What are the current arrangements for visiting, including indoor and outdoor visits?
- 02How are relatives kept informed if there is an infection outbreak or visiting restrictions?
- 03How often are people and staff tested now, and what happens after a positive result?
- 04How are new residents isolated and supported during their first 14 days?
- 05What are the current ratings and findings for care quality, staffing, medicines and activities, which this inspection did not assess?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control arrangements, and the service was inspected but not rated; the other care areas were not assessed in this report. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 March 2021 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 Bedford Charter House
5 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- August 2021Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2016Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvement
- April 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
- February 2015
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 13 February 2015.
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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88 live-in carers within about an hour of Bedford
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. 76 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
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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.