CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Bridge House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People felt safe, risks were regularly assessed and monitored, and staff understood safeguarding procedures. Medicines, infection control, fire safety, recruitment and staffing arrangements were also found to be safe.
- Effective?
- Good
- Care plans covered people's physical, mental health and social care needs. Staff had relevant training and supervision, and people were supported with healthcare, nutrition, mental capacity decisions and lawful DoLS arrangements where needed.
- Caring?
- Good
- People had positive relationships with staff and were treated with dignity and respect. Staff knew people's preferences and supported privacy, communication, choice and personal decisions.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was personalised and reviewed regularly. People helped plan their care, chose activities, went into the community and were supported to maintain relationships with family and friends.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had an open and supportive culture, regular audits and evidence of learning from incidents. The manager was described as approachable, although questionnaires were not always returned.
What inspectors found, May 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, and the home remained Good since the last inspection.
This was a comprehensive, unannounced inspection on 11 April 2018. Inspectors spoke with two people, four staff members and one relative. They also observed care and reviewed care files, medicines records, staff files and management records.
The home supported four adults with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs. Inspectors found that people felt safe, staff understood their needs and risks, medicines were managed safely, and there were enough trained staff.
People had positive relationships with staff. Their care plans reflected their preferences, health needs, activities and goals. People were supported to make choices, stay in touch with family and take part in community activities.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The home was rated Good at the previous inspection and remained Good.
Safe medicines support
Inspectors found that people received medicines as prescribed. Records, storage, stock counts and audits were checked and found to be accurate and safe.
“People continued to receive their medicines safely from staff who had been trained and assessed as competent.” from the report
Skilled and consistent staff
There were enough staff with the right skills and experience. Absences were covered by regular staff to support continuity.
“There were enough skilled staff to support people.” from the report
Respectful relationships
Staff knew people's likes, dislikes and routines. Inspectors saw calm, respectful interactions and found that privacy and dignity were protected.
“They spoke with people in a calm, reassuring and respectful manner.” from the report
Personalised support and choice
Care plans included people's preferences, history, aspirations and support needs. People chose activities, prepared food and were supported to keep family relationships.
“People continued to receive personalised care and support specific to their needs, preferences and diversity.” from the report
Some feedback was missing
minorThe home used questionnaires and other methods to seek views, but questionnaires were not always returned. The manager was working on ways to improve this.
“The registered manager told us the questionnaires were not always returned and they were currently working on ways to improve this.” from the report
- 01How are each person's current risks assessed and updated, including risks linked to self-harm or behaviour that may challenge services?
- 02How do you check that medicines remain safe and that specialist doctors' advice is followed?
- 03How many regular staff support each person, and how are absences covered?
- 04How are people and relatives now encouraged to give feedback if questionnaires are not returned?
- 05How are people's DoLS applications and authorisations reviewed and reapplied for when needed?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC areas, and the inspection took place on 11 April 2018. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 May 2018 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 Bridge House
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- May 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 30 November 2010.
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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39 live-in carers within about an hour of Kent
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 £1,260 a week. 33 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Always on time and with a lovely smile for my mum. Theresa is kind and sensitive to my mum's needs.”
“Irene was a very kind and empathetic carer who knew just the right words to say to put a smile on my face.”
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.