CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Blair House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found people were protected from abuse and that risks, accidents, falls, medicines and infection control were managed safely. Staff had appropriate recruitment checks, training and induction.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was carried forward.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was carried forward.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was carried forward.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found stronger management, new audits, improvement plans and evidence that feedback from people, relatives and staff was being used to improve the home.
What inspectors found, November 2022
Blair House rated Good; inspectors found safe care and stronger management, but the inspection covered only Safe and Well-led.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 31 October 2022. It was prompted partly by concerns about documentation and how the home was managed. One inspector spoke with people, staff, relatives and health professionals, observed care, and checked care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found people were protected from abuse, medicines were administered safely, risks were reviewed, and staff had completed recruitment checks and training. The home was clean, infection control procedures were followed, and people were supported with dignity, choice and independence.
Management and quality checks had improved since the previous inspection. The Well-led rating rose from Requires Improvement to Good, while the overall rating stayed Good. The other three areas were not inspected during this visit, so their previous ratings were carried forward.
Protection from abuse
Staff had safeguarding training and understood how to recognise and report concerns. Inspectors found people were protected from abuse.
“People were protected from the risk of abuse.” from the report
Safe medicines systems
Staff received training and competency checks. Systems covered ordering, storage, administration and disposal of medicines.
“Systems were in place to ensure safe administration, ordering, storage and disposal of medicines.” from the report
Improved management
The manager had introduced a structured improvement plan and stronger checks across care and the environment.
“A robust governance and auditing system had been introduced.” from the report
Choice and independence
Staff supported people to make choices, continue activities they enjoyed and remain as independent as possible.
“People were encouraged and supported to continue to do the things they enjoyed.” from the report
Clean and infection-aware home
The home was clean and tidy, and inspectors were assured that infection prevention and outbreak procedures were in place.
“Infection control procedures were being followed and the home was clean and tidy.” from the report
No registered manager at the visit
minorThere was no registered manager when inspectors visited. A new manager had been working at the home for about six months and was applying to register with CQC.
“The service did not currently have a registered manager; however, a new manager had been working at the service for approximately 6 months and was in the process or registering with CQC.” from the report
Previous medicines error
needs fixingThe report refers to a medicines error. New protocols and regular audits had been introduced in response, so families may want to ask what was learned and how the changes are checked.
“Following a medicines error new protocols had been introduced, these included regular auditing of all aspects of medicine administration, documentation and storage.” from the report
- 01Has the new manager now completed registration with CQC, and who is overseeing the home until this is completed?
- 02What happened after the medicines error, and what have the latest medicines audits shown?
- 03Which actions in the improvement plan are still outstanding?
- 04Has the planned kitchen refurbishment been completed, and what other environmental work remains?
- 05How are people and relatives told about feedback received and the changes made as a result?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive were carried forward from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 November 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 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control practice, but cleaning records were not always complete.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 7 April 2021. It looked at infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic, rather than giving a full rating of the home.
Inspectors found that visitors were tested and used personal protective equipment. Staff had infection control and COVID-19 training, and regular testing was taking place for people living in the home and staff.
The home was clean and tidy, with a schedule for cleaning frequently touched areas. However, the cleaning was not always recorded. The manager said recording would be introduced immediately.
The service was inspected but not rated. The report gives assurance about the infection control arrangements that were checked, but it is not a full judgement on all aspects of care.
Family contact
The home supported people to keep in touch with family and friends. Single named visits had started, and people nearing the end of life could receive regular bedroom visits.
“People were supported to maintain contact with their family and friends.” from the report
PPE and staff training
Staff had access to PPE and had received infection control and COVID-19 training, including how to put on and remove PPE safely.
“Staff had access to PPE. They had received infection control and specific Covid-19 training, and this included guidance for staff about how to put on and take off PPE safely.” from the report
Testing and visitor safety
Visitors had rapid tests before meeting their relatives and had to wear suitable PPE. Regular testing was also taking place for people living in the home and staff.
“All visitors were required to have a rapid Covid-19 test before they met with their loved ones.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean and tidy, with a schedule for cleaning frequently touched areas.
“The home was clean and tidy. There was a cleaning schedule and this included regular cleaning of high touch points” from the report
Cleaning records
minorCleaning of high-touch areas was not always recorded. The manager said a recording system would be introduced immediately.
“There was a cleaning schedule and this included regular cleaning of high touch points such as door handles and light switches. This cleaning was not always recorded.” from the report
- 01How was the new system for recording cleaning of high-touch areas introduced after the inspection?
- 02How are visitors currently tested and supported to use PPE when visiting?
- 03How often are people living in the home and staff tested?
- 04How does the home support people with dementia who may not understand social distancing?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control practices only, so the service was inspected but not rated overall. This explanation was written from the published report of 20 April 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 Blair House
6 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- November 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- September 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- September 2018Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- September 2017Requires improvementup from InadequateSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- February 2017Inadequatedown from Requires improvementSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- October 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2012
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 21 August 2012.
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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
20 live-in carers within about an hour of East Sussex
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 £1,010 to £1,400 a week. 13 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“When he point blank refused to go into hospital for a life saving blood transfusion she talked him through the situation and agreed to go in the ambulance with him and stayed until he was settled.”
“Una felt safe, secure and loved in her time with Debbie which is a gift that I am eternally grateful for.”
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.