CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Carricks Brook
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, January 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with staff trained to support people with complex needs.
The inspection was announced and took place on 2 October 2017. Inspectors observed care and activities, spoke with people and staff, contacted relatives and professionals, and checked care plans, medicines, staff files, incidents and quality records.
The home supported 11 people when inspectors visited. They found people were safe, medicines were managed properly, staffing levels were suitable and staff were trained. People were supported to make choices, stay healthy, develop independence and take part in activities at home and in the community.
People and relatives described staff as caring and respectful. Care was personalised, complaints were taken seriously and managers were seen as open and accessible. All five areas were rated Good, and the home remained Good after also being rated Good at the inspection in May 2015.
Safe medicines support
Staff were trained and assessed as competent to administer medicines. Records and daily checks showed medicines were given as prescribed, including medicines used under positive behavioural support plans.
“We observed that staff gave medicines respectfully having gained consent from the person, and as described in their support plan.” from the report
Skilled staff
Training covered the complex needs of people living at the home. Staff also received supervision, appraisals and support from experienced colleagues.
“Training was specific to the needs of the people using the service and included autism, dementia, epilepsy and positive behavioural support and restrictive practice training.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw staff communicate patiently and respond to people's individual needs. Privacy, dignity, identity and personal choices were respected.
“People were cared for by kind, attentive and caring staff.” from the report
Personalised activities and independence
People were supported to make choices, learn skills and take part in meaningful activities. This included community activities, education, work and hobbies.
“People were supported to develop skills, set goals and increase their levels of independence through reviews and monthly key worker meetings.” from the report
Open management
People, relatives and staff spoke positively about the management. The home used audits, surveys and feedback to monitor care and plan improvements.
“The provider and registered manager were committed to improving the service and quality assurance audits that were completed to ensure a good level of quality was maintained.” from the report
Recruitment and consistency
minorThe report says recruitment was sometimes difficult. New staff could make it harder for people with autism to build relationships because they needed consistency.
“The registered manager and relatives acknowledged that recruitment was difficult at times and that the introduction of new staff presented challenges for people with autism when building new relationships as they needed consistency.” from the report
- 01How do you make sure staffing is consistent for a person who needs familiar staff and relationships?
- 02What positive behavioural support or restrictive practices might apply to my relative, and how would their consent and views be included?
- 03How would you support my relative to communicate choices, distress or concerns?
- 04What activities, education, work or community opportunities would be available for my relative?
- 05How would you keep me informed about changes in my relative's health, care or incidents?
This was an announced inspection of the overall service, including care, activities, records, medicines, staffing and quality systems, and it checked all five rating areas. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 January 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 Carricks Brook
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 25 January 2011.
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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19 live-in carers within about an hour of East Sussex
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 £1,000 to £1,400 a week. 13 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“When he point blank refused to go into hospital for a life saving blood transfusion she talked him through the situation and agreed to go in the ambulance with him and stayed until he was settled.”
“Una felt safe, secure and loved in her time with Debbie which is a gift that I am eternally grateful for.”
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.