CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Belle Vue House
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was using PPE safely, providing testing, checking vaccination status and managing infection risks. The provider also reported measures to reduce the impact of COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Belle Vue House was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 3 February 2022. Inspectors checked infection prevention and control, and asked about staffing pressures linked to COVID-19.
Inspectors were assured that the home was managing infection risks. This included testing, vaccination checks, personal protective equipment, cleaning, safe admissions and measures for visitors.
The home supported people to understand pandemic restrictions and helped them keep in touch with relatives using technology. Staff also created activities for people who could not leave the home.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the inspection did not give a Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate rating.
Infection control
The home had systems to reduce the spread of infection among people, staff and visitors.
“Systems were in place to prevent people, staff and visitors from catching and spreading infections.” from the report
Testing and vaccination
People and staff took part in regular testing, and vaccination checks were in place for relevant staff and visiting professionals.
“People and staff participated in a regular testing programme.” from the report
Protective equipment
Staff used appropriate protective equipment and the home had enough supplies.
“Staff wore appropriate PPE and the service had ample PPE supplies.” from the report
Contact and activities
People were helped to stay in contact with relatives through technology. Staff also found activities for people who could not leave during restrictions.
“Staff had been particularly imaginative in engaging people in activities inside the home when people couldn't leave because of restrictions due to the pandemic.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection prevention and control arrangements are in place now?
- 02How are people, staff and visitors currently tested for infections?
- 03How does the home manage staffing pressures when staff are absent because of COVID-19?
- 04How can residents currently keep in contact with their relatives?
- 05What activities are available for people who cannot leave the home?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control practices and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it did not provide a full rating of the service. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 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.
What inspectors found, April 2020
Belle Vue House was rated Outstanding overall; inspectors found exceptionally caring, responsive and well-led support, with safe and effective care rated Good.
Inspectors visited on 11 and 18 February 2020 without giving advance notice. They spoke with people, relatives, staff and health professionals. They observed care and checked care plans, medicines records, recruitment files and management records.
People received highly personalised care from kind and considerate staff. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practice, suitable training, good support with food and drink, and effective work with health professionals.
Care was rated Outstanding because staff knew people very well, respected their choices and supported their independence. The home also provided personalised activities, strong community links and especially compassionate end of life care.
The overall rating was Outstanding. Safe and Effective were rated Good. Caring, Responsive and Well-led were rated Outstanding. The overall rating improved from Good at the previous inspection, published in September 2017.
Personalised and kind care
Staff understood people's needs and preferences in depth. They regularly went further than expected to support comfort, dignity and wellbeing.
“People received highly personalised care from exceptionally kind and considerate staff.” from the report
Strong involvement
People and relatives were involved in decisions about care and meals. Residents could represent other people's views and take part in staff recruitment.
“People's and relatives' views were central to how care was provided.” from the report
Meaningful activities
Activities were tailored to individual interests and included community events, intergenerational activities and opportunities to maintain relationships.
“The home had a dynamic and creative activities programme, specifically tailored to people's individual preferences and needs.” from the report
Compassionate end of life care
Staff provided highly compassionate support at the end of people's lives. They worked with professionals and stayed beyond shifts when needed.
“People received excellent end of life care and support.” from the report
Effective leadership
The manager was visible and open to feedback. The home used incidents, consultation and professional advice to improve care.
“The provider had a robust and structured governance framework which was fully embedded into the service and focused on continuous improvement.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you tailor activities and daily routines to my relative's interests and preferences?
- 02How will you involve my relative and our family in care decisions and reviews?
- 03How do you record and check medicines, and how would you tell us about any medicine issue?
- 04How will you support my relative's communication needs, including any need for large print or computer access?
- 05How would you work with us and health professionals to provide end of life care if it becomes needed?
This was an unannounced planned inspection that looked at the care provided, the premises, all five key questions and the home's management arrangements. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 April 2020 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 House
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Outstanding.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- April 2020Outstandingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- September 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- May 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2013
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 24 September 2013.
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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46 live-in carers within about an hour of Sunderland
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 £950 to £1,210 a week. 42 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in the night.”
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.