CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Byng House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from avoidable harm, with enough staff, safe medicines systems and risk assessments. Some environmental safety checks and accident analysis were not recorded in enough detail.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had the skills and support to care for people, and people's needs were assessed and reviewed. Some training gaps and incomplete daily records about eating and drinking had been identified.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and relatives gave consistently positive feedback. Inspectors found that staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect and supported independence and choice.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was personalised around people's needs, preferences and goals. People were supported with activities, relationships, communication and end of life care.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had a positive, person-centred culture and worked well with other professionals. Inspectors said some governance and audit records needed more detail to identify shortfalls more easily.
What inspectors found, August 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, but some safety and quality records needed more detail.
This was the first inspection since the home was registered. Inspectors visited on 17 and 18 July 2023. The first day was unannounced and the second was announced. They spoke with people, relatives, staff and visiting professionals, observed care and checked care plans, medicines, training and quality records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People said they felt safe and received their medicines on time. Inspectors found enough staff, personalised care, good support with health needs and positive relationships with families and professionals.
Inspectors found some records were not detailed enough. This included environmental safety checks, accident and incident analysis, audits and some daily records about eating and drinking. The manager started acting on these points during the inspection. These were recommendations, not breaches of regulations.
Safe medicines
People received their medicines as prescribed and at the right times. Storage and controlled drug processes were also checked.
“People received their medicines as prescribed and at the right times.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives consistently praised staff. Inspectors found that staff treated people with compassion, dignity and respect.
“People were treated well and were supported with kindness.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans reflected people's individual needs, preferences and goals. Staff supported choice, independence and involvement in decisions.
“People's plans of care reflected their individual needs and preferences and represented an accurate and up to date reflection of the person.” from the report
Activities and relationships
People could take part in meaningful activities at the home and in the community. Families and friends were encouraged to stay involved.
“The service enabled people to carry out activities which were meaningful to them.” from the report
Positive culture
Inspectors found an open and person-centred culture. Staff said they felt supported, valued and able to speak up.
“The service had a strong positive culture which was person centred, open, inclusive and empowering.” from the report
Safety checks were not fully recorded
needs fixingInspectors were assured that environmental checks took place, but some records lacked enough detail, including checks of window restrictors. New paperwork was due to be introduced.
“some checks were not always recorded in sufficient detail, for example, window restrictor checks.” from the report
Accident analysis records
needs fixingThe manager and provider had oversight of accidents and incidents, but analysis was not always recorded fully. Inspectors recommended better recording of patterns and trends.
“analysis had not always been recorded in full.” from the report
Food and drink records
needs fixingInspectors were assured that people were supported with eating and drinking risks, but daily records did not always show this accurately. Staff were to be reminded about consistent recording.
“daily care records did not always accurately reflect this support.” from the report
Governance records
needs fixingThe manager understood the service and had oversight, but some risk and quality systems needed more detail. Inspectors recommended strengthening audit records.
“some systems to manage risks to the safety and quality of the service required further detail.” from the report
Training gaps
needs fixingInspectors found some gaps in training linked to people's needs and some mandatory training. The manager had identified this and training had been booked.
“Although we identified some gaps in staff training specific to people's needs and some areas of mandatory training, the registered manager had already identified this and training had been booked for staff.” from the report
- 01What new paperwork is now used to record environmental safety checks, including window restrictor checks?
- 02How do you record and review accident and incident patterns and trends?
- 03How do daily records show that each person's eating and drinking support has been provided?
- 04Which staff training gaps identified during the inspection have now been completed?
- 05How are audits checked to make sure risks and shortfalls are identified and acted on?
This was the home's first comprehensive inspection and covered all five CQC questions, including infection prevention and control. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 August 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, April 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection prevention and control practices.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 30 March 2021. It checked infection prevention and control because the home was being used for people leaving hospital with a positive COVID-19 status.
Inspectors found safe visiting arrangements, regular COVID-19 testing, safe admissions and a separate area for people with confirmed COVID-19. They also found the home clean and hygienic, with staff using protective equipment safely.
The home was rated inspected but not rated. This means the inspection did not give an overall quality rating or rate all five areas of care. It focused on infection prevention and control.
Safe visiting
Visits were booked in advance. Relatives were tested, supported to wash their hands and required to wear protective equipment.
“A safe visiting procedure was in place. People's relatives were tested for COVID-19 with lateral flow tests prior to visits taking place.” from the report
Testing and admissions
Staff and residents were tested regularly. New admissions were tested and cared for in their own rooms during a 14-day isolation period.
“People were admitted to the service safely. People were tested for COVID-19 prior to their arrival and were cared for in their own rooms during the 14 day isolation period.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean and hygienic. The home had introduced stricter cleaning arrangements to reduce infection risks.
“The home was clean and hygienic throughout. The registered manager told us they had implemented stricter cleaning protocols to minimise the risk of spreading infection.” from the report
Protective equipment
Staff used and disposed of protective equipment safely and in line with national guidance.
“Staff were using and disposing of PPE safely and in line with the relevant national guidance.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What has changed in your infection prevention and control arrangements since the inspection on 30 March 2021?
- 02How do you currently test visitors, residents and staff for infections?
- 03How do you manage admissions and isolation when someone arrives with an infection?
- 04How do you keep staff up to date when infection control guidance changes?
- 05How do you manage visits and protect residents if there is an infection outbreak?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, under the Safe area; the service was inspected but not rated overall and the other areas were not covered. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 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 Byng House
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- August 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2021
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 March 2021.
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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38 live-in carers within about an hour of Sefton
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 £1,270 a week. 34 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during the night.”
“It was clear that she genuinely cared and her warm approach really helped put our minds at ease.”
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.