CQC report explained · a nursing 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 found that risks were assessed and reviewed, medicines were managed safely, staffing was sufficient and safeguarding systems were effective.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its rating was not given in this report.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its rating was not given in this report.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were detailed and person-centred. People were offered choices, supported to keep relationships and helped to take part in activities suited to their needs.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had systems for checking quality, risks and regulatory requirements. Inspectors found an open, person-centred culture and evidence of work to improve care.
What inspectors found, August 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, personalised care, good activities and strong management, with no evidence of harm from the concerns that prompted the inspection.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 30 June 2023. Inspectors looked at Safe, Responsive and Well-led. They spoke with people, relatives, staff and health professionals, observed care, and checked care, medicines, staffing and management records.
The home was rated Good in all three areas inspected. Inspectors found that risks were reviewed, medicines were given safely, staffing was sufficient and recruitment checks were completed. Care plans were detailed and personalised, and people were supported with activities, relationships and choices.
The inspection followed concerns about pressure area care, weight loss and record keeping. Inspectors found no evidence that people were at risk of harm from these concerns. Improvements had been made since the previous inspection, including more detailed risk assessments and more person-centred care plans. The overall Good rating remained unchanged from the previous inspection in 2019.
Personalised care
Care plans included people's preferences, interests, important relationships and comfort needs. Inspectors said staff had the information needed to provide care in line with individual needs.
“People's care plans contained detailed and person-centred information.” from the report
Safe care
Risks were reviewed and staff followed detailed guidance, including for pressure damage, choking and medical equipment. Medicines were also managed safely.
“Risks were assessed and regularly reviewed, and people's care plans contained detailed and personalised information to support staff to manage people's risks safely.” from the report
Activities and relationships
People were supported to stay active, see important people and take part in activities suited to their abilities. The home also supported outings and had spaces designed for people living with dementia.
“People were supported to remain active and maintain relationships that were important to them.” from the report
Open management
Managers used audits, governance reports and improvement plans to monitor the home. People, relatives and staff said they felt able to speak openly and raise concerns.
“Systems were in place to monitor quality performance, risks and regulatory requirements.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you continuing to monitor pressure damage and respond if someone's skin condition changes?
- 02How do you monitor people's weight and nutrition, particularly for anyone at risk of weight loss?
- 03How do managers check that care records remain accurate, detailed and up to date?
- 04What activities would be suitable for my relative's interests, abilities and communication needs?
- 05Which ratings were carried over from the 2019 inspection rather than checked during this visit?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Responsive and Well-led only; the other ratings carried over from the previous inspection in 2019. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 August 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
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control and visiting arrangements during a COVID-19 outbreak.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 2 February 2022. It followed concerns about visiting arrangements and also looked at COVID-19 infection control and staffing pressures.
The inspectors were assured that the home was managing infection risks. Staff used protective equipment properly, testing was in place, cleaning had been increased and visitors followed screening, testing and protective equipment rules.
The home had closed to non-essential visitors because of an outbreak. Essential visits, including visits for people receiving end of life care, were supported in line with government guidance. People could also keep in touch through video calls, telephone calls and window visits.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give an overall quality rating or a rated judgement for the five areas of care.
Infection control
The home had clear infection control procedures, increased cleaning of frequently touched areas and updated its practices as guidance changed.
“All practice and procedures had been reviewed, updated and where necessary, changed in line with the latest guidance.” from the report
Protective equipment and testing
Staff had training in infection prevention and protective equipment. Inspectors saw staff using it properly, and stocks were available.
“Staff had received training in infection prevention and control and the use of PPE including undertaking aerosol generating procedures.” from the report
Visiting support
Although non-essential visits were paused during the outbreak, essential visits were supported and people could contact relatives and friends in other ways.
“Staff were supporting people to contact their relatives and friends through video calls, telephone calls and window visits.” from the report
Open management
The management team worked with the local authority and infection prevention and control teams during outbreaks.
“The management team had been open and transparent and worked closely with the Local Authority and infection prevention and control teams throughout Covid-19 outbreaks at the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What are the current visiting arrangements, including what happens during a COVID-19 outbreak?
- 02How do you support essential caregivers and visits for people receiving end of life care?
- 03How are staffing pressures managed when staff are absent because of COVID-19?
- 04How often are cleaning schedules and infection control procedures reviewed now?
- 05How do you provide contact with relatives when in-person visits are restricted?
This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it did not rate the other areas of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 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 Belle Vue Care Home
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- August 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- June 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2018Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- November 2017
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 November 2017.
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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21 live-in carers within about an hour of Torbay
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 £1,400 a week. 17 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“She looked after my mum, who can be incredibly challenging, so well and so gently, and we always felt confident that my mum was getting the best care available.”
“She was not phased by anything, she was adaptable, kind & gave us complete confidence to go away & not worry about a thing!”
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.