CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Breakaway Short Breaks
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found safe medicines systems, suitable risk assessments, safeguarding arrangements and enough staff on each shift. Infection prevention and control arrangements also gave inspectors assurance.
- Effective?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's needs, choices, communication and dietary preferences. Staff received relevant training and support, and the home worked with health and social care professionals.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused inspection. The report says the overall rating used ratings from the last inspection for key questions that were not inspected.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused inspection. The report says the overall rating used ratings from the last inspection for key questions that were not inspected.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found improved quality checks, supportive management and person-centred leadership. Staff understood the home's aims and felt supported.
What inspectors found, April 2023
Breakaway Short Breaks was rated Good; inspectors found clear improvements in medicines, risk planning and management.
This was an unannounced focused inspection. Inspectors visited the home on 20 February and 7 March 2023. They spoke with three people, three staff members and the registered manager, and checked care, medicines, staffing, training and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective and Well-led. Inspectors found that medicines were stored, given and recorded safely. Risk assessments and care plans had also been improved so staff had clearer guidance.
The previous inspection rated the home Requires Improvement and found breaches of regulation. This inspection found that the provider had completed its action plan and was no longer in breach. The overall rating changed to Good.
Safer medicines
Medicines storage, administration and records had been improved. Inspectors found no gaps in the records they checked.
“Medicines storage and administration and recording had improved and was now safe.” from the report
Clearer risk plans
Risk assessments now brought the relevant guidance together and gave staff more precise instructions about reducing risks.
“Risk assessments were clear and co-ordinated.” from the report
Person-centred support
Staff supported people to make choices, develop interests and maintain independence. Inspectors observed staff respecting people's privacy.
“Model of care and setting maximised people's choice, control and independence.” from the report
Improved oversight
The provider had strengthened its checks on care records, medicines, safety and infection control. This helped it identify and respond to issues more quickly.
“The provider had several quality assurance processes and work had been carried out since our previous inspection to improve the capture and oversight of information.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you check that medicines records remain complete and accurate for each person?
- 02How often are risk assessments and care plans reviewed when a person's needs or behaviour changes?
- 03How do you make sure agency staff understand each person's support needs before working at the home?
- 04How will you support someone who needs an emergency placement or is looking for a longer-term home?
- 05How can my relative give feedback if they cannot communicate verbally or in writing?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Effective and Well-led; Caring and Responsive were not inspected directly and the overall rating used ratings from the previous inspection for key questions not inspected. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 April 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, July 2021
Overall rating Requires Improvement; inspectors found kind, person-centred care, but medicines were not managed safely and quality checks missed problems.
This was the first comprehensive inspection of the newly registered home. It was unannounced and took place on 14 May 2021. Inspectors spoke with people, staff, relatives and health and social care professionals. They also observed care and checked care, medicines and management records.
The home provided respite care for adults with learning disabilities, including some people with sensory or physical impairments. Inspectors found kind staff, good support with food, activities and healthcare, and care that promoted choice, dignity and independence.
There were important safety concerns. Medicines records and storage did not always follow national guidance or the provider's policy. Some risk assessments and care plans lacked enough detail. The home's checks had not found these problems. The overall rating was Requires Improvement, with Safe and Well-led also rated Requires Improvement. Effective, Caring and Responsive were rated Good.
Kind and respectful staff
People appeared comfortable with staff, and inspectors saw warm interactions and shared activities. Relatives and professionals also gave positive feedback about the care.
“People using the service appeared comfortable with staff supporting them. We observed people and staff had ongoing contact, joking together, dancing and engaging in activities.” from the report
Choice and independence
Staff offered choices about food and daily activities. They used adapted equipment and supported people to develop independence.
“People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives, and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests;” from the report
Support with health and activities
The home worked with health and social care professionals and followed their guidance. People were supported with nutritious food, healthcare appointments and activities they enjoyed.
“The service worked closely with external health and social care professionals to care effectively for people.” from the report
Accessible environment
The building had adaptations for people with learning and physical disabilities. It provided space for wheelchairs, adjustable facilities and individual rooms.
“The adaptation enabled people's independence as much as possible.” from the report
Medicines safety
seriousMedicines records did not always contain the information needed for safe administration. Medicines were also removed from pharmacy packaging and put into a dosette box, creating a risk of errors.
“As a result, there was a risk that the person would not receive their medicines at the correct time intervals, affecting their health and wellbeing.” from the report
Risk assessments lacked detail
needs fixingSome risk assessments did not clearly describe the risks or exactly how staff should reduce them. Guidance was sometimes spread across different records, so important information could be missed.
“Some risk assessments did not always have a detailed description of how exactly staff could mitigate these risks.” from the report
Quality checks missed problems
seriousThe home had several checks and audits, but they did not identify the medicines, risk assessment and care planning shortfalls found by inspectors.
“We noted that the provider's checks and audits had not identified issues around managing medicines and gaps in the risk assessment and care planning process.” from the report
- 01What changes have you made to medicines administration records since the inspection?
- 02How are medicines now stored and administered, and who checks that this is done safely?
- 03How have you improved risk assessments so staff have clear instructions for managing each person's risks?
- 04How do care plans now describe each person's personal care needs and preferences?
- 05What checks are now in place to make sure these improvements are working?
This was the first unannounced comprehensive inspection and covered all five key questions, including infection prevention and control. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 July 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 Breakaway Short Breaks
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- April 2023Goodcurrent ratingup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2021Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- November 2019
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 21 November 2019.
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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Camden
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 £960 to £1,300 a week. 75 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“The quality of life that she's given my parents has been priceless. The peace of mind she's given my sisters and I, through a very difficult time, has been invaluable.”
“The interaction she gives my mother is incredible, singing, dancing, taking her to groups, on plenty of walks which mum always loves.”
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.