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CQC report explained · a nursing home

What the CQC found at Bridge House

Outstandingpublished 18 January 2019, 7 years ago

Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.

The five questions inspectors ask
Safe?
Good
People were protected from abuse and risks were identified and managed. Inspectors also found that staffing, recruitment, medicines, fire safety and infection control arrangements were appropriate.
Effective?
Good
Staff had the skills and knowledge to meet people's needs. People received suitable food and drink, had access to healthcare professionals and were supported to make decisions.
Caring?
Good
Staff treated people with dignity and respect, offered choices and supported independence. Care was provided in a warm and patient way.
Responsive?
Outstanding
The home provided a wide range of personalised activities and responded creatively to people's interests, wellbeing and changing needs. People were supported to stay connected with relatives and the wider community.
Well-led?
Outstanding
Inspectors found excellent leadership, strong teamwork and a clear focus on improving people's lives. Quality checks were effective and staff were highly valued.
The latest report, explained

What inspectors found, January 2019

Bridge House was rated Outstanding overall, with inspectors finding especially responsive care and strong leadership.

Inspectors visited the home without warning on 22 and 23 November 2018. They spoke with people living there, relatives and staff, observed care, and reviewed care plans, medicines, staff records and quality checks.

The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective and Caring. Inspectors found people were protected from abuse, risks were reviewed, medicines were managed safely, staff were trained, health needs were supported, and people were treated with dignity and respect.

The home was rated Outstanding for Responsive and Well-led. People received highly personal care and had many meaningful activities, choices and links with the local community. The management team used feedback and checks to keep improving the service. The overall rating improved from Good at the previous inspection in April 2016.

What inspectors praised
  • Personalised activities

    The home offered activities based on people's histories, interests and abilities. It used creative ideas such as music, virtual reality, hobby areas and individual wishes.

    “The service had gone the extra mile to ensure that any activities offered were personalised and meaningful for people.” from the report
  • Community links

    People were supported to remain involved with the local community through links with schools, children's groups, churches, libraries and other organisations.

    “The provider had put a great effort into involving the service in the local and wider community.” from the report
  • Strong leadership

    The management team and staff shared clear values and worked together to improve people's experience. Staff were encouraged to contribute ideas.

    “The service was exceptionally well-led. All staff showed a passion and commitment to providing the best support to enable people to have full lives.” from the report
  • Safe care

    Risks were assessed and reviewed, staff understood safeguarding, and accidents and incidents were analysed so action could be taken to reduce future risks.

    “Risks to people's safety were identified and plans put in place to minimise the risks.” from the report
  • Choice and dignity

    People could make choices about daily routines, food, activities and clothing. Staff respected privacy and dignity during personal care.

    “People were treated with dignity and respect. People's privacy was respected at all times.” from the report
What inspectors were concerned about

Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.

Questions to ask them, based on this report
  1. 01How would you find out about my relative's interests and use them to plan meaningful activities?
  2. 02How would you support my relative to stay in contact with family, friends and community groups?
  3. 03How are risks such as falls, mobility problems or changing health needs reviewed and communicated to staff?
  4. 04How would my relative choose their meals and meal times, and what would you do if they were at risk of malnutrition?
  5. 05How are relatives involved in care planning, reviews and decisions if their relative cannot make a particular decision?

This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions and the overall quality of the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 January 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.

The story over the years

Every inspection of Bridge House

3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Outstanding.

  1. January 2019Outstandingcurrent ratingup from Good
    Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding

    Read what inspectors found at Bridge House →

  2. May 2016Goodup from Requires improvement
    Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good

    We are reading this report · the original is on cqc.org.uk

  3. March 2015Requires improvement
    Safe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  4. October 2014

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  5. July 2014

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  6. April 2014

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  7. November 2013

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  8. August 2013

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  9. April 2013

    Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 5 April 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.

Next steps

Weigh the report against the rest

Care at home

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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 £1,300 a week. 32 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.

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See live-in carers near OxfordshireProfiles, rates and reviews are free to look at.

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.