CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Charnhill Crescent
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People told inspectors they felt safe. Risks, medicines, staffing, infection control and health and safety checks were managed appropriately.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. Its rating was carried forward from the previous inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. Its rating was carried forward from the previous inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. Its rating was carried forward from the previous inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found clear management roles, regular audits, good relationships with health and social care professionals, and a positive culture.
What inspectors found, May 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, person-centred care and strong management, with a recent medicines error that had been addressed.
This was an unannounced inspection on 6 and 13 April 2023. One inspector spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and the manager. They observed care and checked care records, medicines records, staff training and quality checks.
The home was rated Good overall, and Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found people felt safe, staff knew their needs, risks were managed, medicines were generally handled safely and there were enough trained staff.
The home had regular checks and audits. A recent medicines error linked to communication with health professionals had been resolved. An earlier issue with storing cleaning chemicals had also been addressed.
Only Safe and Well-led were inspected during this visit. The ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive were carried forward from the previous inspection. The overall Good rating remained unchanged from the last inspection, published in March 2018.
Kind, person-centred support
People said they were happy with the care and that staff were kind. Staff knew people well and supported their individual goals.
“People living at the home told us they were happy with the care provided and that the staff were nice.” from the report
Enough trained staff
Inspectors found there were enough suitably trained staff. Staffing could be adjusted to meet people's needs, with a regular and consistent team.
“There were enough suitably trained staff to meet people's needs. Staffing levels were flexible and adapted to support people.” from the report
Good safety arrangements
Risks were assessed and reviewed, medicines records and counts were checked, and health and safety checks were completed.
“Care files were reviewed regularly and information relating to risks was updated.” from the report
Activities and family contact
People took part in activities at home and in the community. Staff also supported people to keep in regular contact with relatives.
“People took part in a range of activities both in the home and in the wider community.” from the report
Strong oversight
The home used regular audits and checks. Inspectors found that issues identified through these checks were dealt with promptly.
“Robust systems of daily, weekly, and monthly quality assurance checks and audits were in place.” from the report
Recent medicines error
needs fixingThe manager reported a recent medicines error caused by miscommunication with the pharmacy and GP. It had been resolved, and new medication records were created to improve oversight.
“The registered manager told us about a recent incident regarding a medication error due to miscommunication with the pharmacy and GP.” from the report
Earlier chemical storage issue
minorAn internal audit found that cleaning chemicals had been stored inappropriately in the laundry room. The report says improvements had been implemented.
“The audit highlighted improvements required in some aspects of health and safety such as the inappropriate storage of COSHH chemicals in the laundry room, improvements had been implemented.” from the report
- 01What changes were made to medicines checks after the recent error involving the pharmacy and GP?
- 02How are medicines records and counts checked now, and who reviews the results?
- 03How do you make sure cleaning chemicals remain stored safely in the laundry room?
- 04What activities and community opportunities are currently available for my relative?
- 05How will residents be involved in the planned social enterprise projects in the community?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led; Effective, Caring and Responsive were not inspected and their ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 May 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, March 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with limited periods when no staff were present.
This was an unannounced inspection on 3 and 9 January 2018. One inspector spoke with three people, two staff members, the registered manager and a health care professional. The inspector reviewed one person's care records, staffing rotas, policies, training records and quality checks.
The home supported four people with mental health needs. Inspectors found people were encouraged to make choices, build independence and take part in activities, shopping, cooking and community life. Staff understood people's needs and had guidance about changes in mental and physical health.
All five areas were rated Good: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. This was the same overall rating as at the previous inspection in October 2015. There were periods during the day when people were in the home without staff, but this was covered by an agreed protocol and kept under review.
Building independence
People were supported to manage parts of daily life themselves, including cooking, shopping, finances and medicines when assessed as safe.
“People were empowered to take control over their own lives.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People said they liked the staff. Inspectors saw staff spending time with people and found that privacy, dignity and personal choice were respected.
“The staff are very kind and mean well, it is really homely and the staff act as enablers” from the report
Person-centred support
Staff knew people's interests, history, triggers and achievements. Care plans included clear information about mental health changes and how to respond.
“The actions for staff to take were clear and very person-centred.” from the report
Meaningful activities
People took part in activities they chose, including walking, swimming, gym sessions, groups, holidays and work in the community.
“It was evident people were supported to find meaningful activities.” from the report
Involving people
People's views were gathered through house meetings, care reviews and informal discussions. Their views also helped shape the recruitment of new staff.
“There was a culture where people felt included and their views were sought.” from the report
Periods without staff
needs fixingThere were times during the day when no staff were in the home, for up to two hours. This was risk assessed and kept under review, but families should understand how this arrangement works.
“There were occasions during the day when there were no staff present in the home.” from the report
Recruitment records not checked
needs fixingRecruitment information was held at the main office, so inspectors could not check that the correct records were in place during this inspection. The report says checks would be arranged.
“Recruitment information was held at the main office of Milestones Trust so we were unable to check the correct records were in place.” from the report
- 01How do you decide whether a person can safely be in the home without staff for up to two hours?
- 02How are periods without staff recorded, and what would make you change this arrangement?
- 03Have the safe recruitment checks identified during the inspection now been fully checked and recorded?
- 04How would you recognise and respond if my relative's mental health began to deteriorate?
- 05How will my relative be involved in planning activities, reviews and any move towards more independent living?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five key questions and reviewing the overall quality and safety of the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 March 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 Charnhill Crescent
3 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- May 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: OutstandingCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 11 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 South Gloucestershire
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 £1,020 to £1,280 a week. 32 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She was very caring, kind and patient to all his needs, she built up a wondetful rapport with him, she was dedicated and was there for him through good times as well as through the tough times”
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.