CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Belle Vue Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection control measures, PPE, testing, visiting arrangements and outbreak planning were in place. The provider also said it had measures to reduce the risks from COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, March 2022
Belle Vue Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and visiting arrangements.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 25 February 2022. Inspectors gave the home 48 hours' notice and focused on infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
The home was caring for eight people with learning disabilities. Inspectors found thorough checks for visitors, including screening questions, temperature checks, lateral flow test results and vaccination checks for professional visitors.
Inspectors were assured that the home used personal protective equipment safely, supported testing, followed shielding and social distancing guidance, and had arrangements to prevent or manage outbreaks. The home was inspected but not rated, so this report does not provide a standard overall rating.
Visitor safety
Visitors were checked using screening questions, temperature checks and lateral flow test results. Professional visitors also had their vaccination status checked.
“Staff ensured visitors and people were safe by completing thorough checks to reduce COVID-19 risks.” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home used PPE safely, supported testing and had suitable hygiene, layout and outbreak arrangements.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Accessible information
People were supported with videos and easy-read information about COVID-19 risks, testing and vaccines. This helped them make informed decisions about their care.
“Staff had supported people to access videos and easy read accessible information to explain the risks of COVID-19 and the benefits of testing and vaccines.” from the report
Staff support
Staff said they received support, training and guidance about infection control and using PPE.
“Staff told us they felt supported by the registered manager and were given training and support in relation to managing infection prevention and control (IPC) and how to safely use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would staffing pressures affect people’s care if there was a COVID-19-related staff shortage?
- 02How are visitors currently checked, and how would visiting change during an outbreak?
- 03How does the home make COVID-19 and other health information accessible to each person?
- 04What arrangements are in place to prevent and manage an infection outbreak?
- 05How does the home keep its infection prevention and control policy up to date?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it did not provide ratings for the other areas. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 March 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.
What inspectors found, July 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with only minor areas to keep under review.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 26 June and 4 July 2019. One inspector spoke with six people, two relatives and four staff. They also reviewed care records, medicine records, staff files and management records.
The home supported eight people with learning disabilities. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicine practices and effective checks on risks. People were treated kindly, involved in decisions and supported to build independence, maintain relationships and take part in activities.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was the same overall rating as the previous inspection, published on 30 November 2016.
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff to support people safely. Medicine records were accurate, and some people were supported to manage their own medicines where this was safe.
“Staff completed medicine records accurately and with enough detail.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives described staff as kind and caring. Staff respected people's privacy and involved them in their care.
“People were happy living at Belle Vue and with the staff who provided their care.” from the report
Building independence
Staff supported people to learn practical skills, travel more independently and make choices about their daily lives.
“Staff encouraged people to try new things for themselves to build their confidence such as learning to travel on public transport to be able to visit friends and family independently.” from the report
Communication support
Staff used different methods to help people communicate, including pictures, simple English, signs and Makaton.
“Staff supported people in a variety of ways to communicate including speech, British Sign Language, giving more time and using simple English, pictures and Makaton.” from the report
Survey feedback was not always shared
minorPeople and relatives completed annual surveys, but were not always aware of the results or what had happened afterwards. Ask how feedback is now reported back.
“People and their relatives had completed annual surveys to give their feedback on how the service ran but was not always aware of outcomes.” from the report
The building is larger than current guidance
minorThe home is larger than current best practice guidance for this type of service. Inspectors said its design and setting reduced the negative impact on people.
“The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties. This is larger than current best practice guidance.” from the report
- 01How do you share the results of people’s and relatives’ surveys, and what improvements have followed?
- 02How does the size of the home affect daily life, privacy and opportunities for people to feel part of the local community?
- 03How are people supported to take medicines themselves, and how do you check that this remains safe?
- 04What individual goals are currently being worked on, such as travel, cooking, employment or social activities?
- 05How do you support each person to communicate their choices, including during healthcare appointments or emergencies?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions and the care and accommodation provided by the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 July 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.
Every inspection of Belle Vue Care Home
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- July 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2016Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 April 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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