CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Belamacanda
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and risks were assessed and managed. Inspectors found enough staff, appropriate recruitment checks and good medicines management.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had suitable training, supervision and appraisals. People's capacity and consent were considered, and their nutritional and health needs were supported.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were described as kind, caring and compassionate. People were supported to make choices, maintain their independence and have their privacy and dignity respected.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was personalised and activities were available. Inspectors said some care plans needed more information about dietary needs, and records did not show how some people were supported with their emotional and social needs.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The management team promoted an open and supportive culture. Regular audits, feedback and checks were used to monitor the service and make improvements.
What inspectors found, September 2017
Belamacanda is Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some care records needing more detail.
This was an unannounced inspection on 3 July 2017. The inspectors spoke with nine people living at the home, observed care, spoke with staff and managers, and checked care records, recruitment files, training records and safety checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough safely recruited staff, good medicines management, suitable training, respectful care, personalised support and effective checks on quality.
The home was still rated Good, as it had been at the previous inspection. Inspectors noted that some care plans needed more information about dietary needs and preferences, and that records did not always show how some people were supported with activities and social needs.
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs and saw that medicines were given properly and at the required times.
“We saw that people received their medicines at the required time and that staff didn't rush them.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People spoke positively about staff. Inspectors saw warm relationships, respect for privacy and support for people's choices and independence.
“People were complimentary about the care provided by the staff team.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's preferences and backgrounds. Staff knew people well and adapted communication and support to individual needs.
“Care plans were personalised and sufficiently detailed to provide guidance to the staff team on the level of care and support each person needed.” from the report
Good management checks
The home had regular audits and sought feedback from people and staff. Inspectors found that feedback had led to changes.
“There was a robust and effective quality monitoring system.” from the report
Some care plans needed more detail
needs fixingInspectors said some care plans needed extra information about current dietary needs and preferences, so support could be delivered consistently.
“However, there were some areas of the care plans where additional information would be useful to ensure that care was delivered consistently and in line with peoples current support needs.” from the report
Activity support was not always recorded
needs fixingSome people did not appear to take part in activities during the inspection. Staff said they were involved in activities, but this was not shown in their records.
“We observed that there were a few people who did not appear to take part in any form of activity throughout the day.” from the report
- 01How do you make sure each person's dietary needs, preferences and current support needs are kept up to date in their care plan?
- 02How do you record activities and emotional or social support for people who do not often join group activities?
- 03How many staff are usually on duty for the number and needs of people living here?
- 04How are medicines given safely, including medicines prescribed to be taken only when needed?
- 05How are people and their families involved in regular care plan reviews?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, including observations, conversations with people and staff, and checks of care, recruitment, training and safety records. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 September 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 Belamacanda
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- September 2017Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 18 January 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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35 live-in carers within about an hour of Essex
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 £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 25 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Not only was she professional, polite and efficient but she bought a lovely smile and laughter to my parents home.”
“She brought fun and stimulation into mums life.”
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.