CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Byards Keep
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, detailed risk assessments and trained staff who understood safeguarding. Medicines were safely managed and recorded.
- Effective?
- Good
- People had detailed care plans, regular health appointments and annual reviews. Staff received training, supervision and performance checks, and mental capacity and best interest decisions were recorded.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were kind and respectful. People were offered choices, supported to communicate, and encouraged to maintain their privacy, dignity and independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was personalised around people's needs, likes and dislikes. People were supported with activities, relationships, communication and access to the local community.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found person-centred leadership, regular audits, good communication and effective work with relatives and other professionals. Complaints and incidents were investigated and used to improve the service.
What inspectors found, September 2019
Byards Keep was rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some areas awaiting renovation.
The CQC carried out a planned inspection on 25 and 27 June 2019. One inspector visited the home, spoke with people, relatives, staff and health professionals, observed care, and checked care, medicine, staff and management records.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, detailed care plans and risk assessments, safe medicines practice, kind staff, support with health needs, activities and community access, and regular checks on quality.
The home supports up to eight younger adults with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. Inspectors noted that its size and secluded location were larger or more separate than current best practice guidance, but said the building and staff support helped reduce any negative impact. Some areas were marked for renovation.
Enough staff
Staffing was adjusted to people's needs, including the use of agency staff when necessary. Inspectors found that people received patient and unrushed support.
“People received care and support in a patient and unrushed way.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People had positive relationships with staff. Staff treated people as equals and supported their dignity, choices and independence.
“People were supported by kind and caring staff.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included detailed information about people's needs, preferences and communication. Staff supported people to make choices and take part in activities they enjoyed.
“People received person-centred care.” from the report
Size and location
minorThe home supported eight people, which inspectors said was larger than current best practice guidance. It was also secluded, although staff helped people access the local community and inspectors said the risks were reduced.
“This is larger than current best practice guidance.” from the report
End of life planning
needs fixingThe home did not routinely provide end of life care, but the manager was still introducing care plans to record people's wishes about this type of support.
“The registered manager was in the process of introducing care plans to support staff to explore and record any wishes and views people had regarding care and support at the end of their life.” from the report
- 01What renovation work has been completed since the inspection, including the carpet replacement and chipped paintwork?
- 02How will you help my relative take part in local activities and remain connected with the wider community?
- 03How are medicines that could be overused monitored, and how often are staff competence checks completed?
- 04Are care plans about people's end of life wishes now in place, and how are families involved if this becomes relevant?
This was a planned comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, including both the home and the care provided; all ratings were reviewed and remained Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 September 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.
What inspectors found, November 2016
Byards Keep was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with effective management.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 19 October 2016. Inspectors spoke with two people living at the home, two relatives and staff. They observed care and checked three care plans, medicines, staffing, training and quality records.
The home supported seven people with learning disabilities or autism. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems and care plans that reflected people's physical and emotional needs. Staff were trained and knew how to support people, including when to use diversion and distraction instead of restraint.
People were supported to make choices, maintain relationships and take part in activities, community groups and holidays. The manager was described as approachable, and audits, surveys and meetings were used to monitor and improve the service. All five areas inspected were rated Good.
Personalised care
Care plans recorded people's physical, emotional and communication needs in detail. Staff knew this information and used it to provide consistent support.
“Care plans fully reflected the care people needed to ensure their physical and emotional well-being and staff's knowledge of people's care needs was good.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors saw warm relationships between people and staff. Staff supported people's choices, privacy, dignity and confidence.
“People were supported by kind, caring staff who understood people's likes and dislikes and tailored their care to people's preferences.” from the report
Activities and community life
People were supported to choose activities, use community groups and go on holidays. Staffing could be adjusted to help people take part.
“People were supported to live active and fulfilled lives and to engage with the local community.” from the report
Safe medicines support
Medicines were stored safely, records were complete and daily checks were carried out. Care plans gave staff clear instructions about medicines taken when needed.
“Medication administration records were fully completed and daily checks were completed to ensure all medicine was accounted for.” from the report
Effective oversight
The manager gathered views from people, families and healthcare professionals and acted on feedback. Regular audits were used to identify and address issues.
“There was an effective suite of audits to monitor the quality of care people received.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you make sure my relative's care plan reflects their current physical, emotional and communication needs?
- 02How do you support people who find food, eating or drinking difficult, and how do you monitor their weight?
- 03How do you use diversion and distraction before considering restraint, and how are any medicines used for emotional distress reviewed?
- 04How do you arrange staffing when residents want to attend activities, visit family or go into the community?
- 05How will my relative and our family be involved in decisions, care plan reviews and any best-interest decisions?
This was an unannounced inspection of the overall service, covering all five CQC questions and providing ratings for each one. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 November 2016 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 Byards Keep
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- September 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 December 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.
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
9 live-in carers within about an hour of Lincolnshire
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.
8 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Martin was more than a carer, he managed the home and became my uncle's best friend, enriching his life during his last few years.”
“Magda was always positive and proactive about trying new things to keep dad busy. She also introduced new ideas for keeping dad healthy.”
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.