CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at St Andrews
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, risk assessments, safe medicines practice and suitable infection control.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had relevant training, supervision and support. People's health, nutrition, care needs and choices were assessed and reviewed, and staff helped people access healthcare.
- Caring?
- Good
- People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff knew people's preferences and supported their independence and involvement in decisions.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were personalised and regularly updated. People were supported with communication, relationships, activities, complaints and end of life wishes.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found open management, staff support, regular audits and action to learn from incidents and feedback. There was no registered manager in post at the time of the visit.
What inspectors found, March 2024
Crownwise Limited - St Andrews was rated Good in all five areas, with safe, kind and personalised care found.
The CQC made an unannounced visit on 21 December 2023. One inspector spoke with people, staff and managers, reviewed care and staff records, checked medicines and observed care and the home.
People said they felt safe and were happy with the care. Inspectors found enough suitably recruited staff, safe medicines systems, regular training, personalised care and respectful relationships. People were supported with their health, choices, independence, family contact and activities.
The home was rated Good overall and Good for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. These ratings were unchanged from the previous inspection on 14 March 2018. There was no registered manager in post during this inspection, but a deputy manager had applied to register and the application was being assessed.
People felt safe
People said they felt safe, and staff understood how to recognise, report and escalate abuse concerns.
“People were protected from the risk of abuse.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People described staff as caring and respectful. Staff supported privacy, dignity, choice and independence.
“People received care from a regular team of staff.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans described people's needs, preferences and routines. Staff reviewed plans when people's needs changed.
“People received personalised care that met their needs.” from the report
Good staff support
Staff received training, supervision, team meetings and appraisals to help them carry out their roles.
“Staff received support to undertake their roles via regular supervisions, team meetings and handovers.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The provider used audits, feedback and reviews to check care and make improvements when needed.
“Detailed audits were undertaken on various aspects of the service.” from the report
No registered manager at the visit
minorThe report records that there was no registered manager in post when inspectors visited. A deputy manager had applied to register, but the application was still being assessed.
“At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post.” from the report
- 01What is the current outcome of the deputy manager's application to become the registered manager?
- 02Who is responsible for the home while there is no registered manager in post?
- 03How are people's risk assessments and care plans reviewed when their needs change?
- 04How do you check that medicines are given as prescribed?
- 05What activities and support are available for the person to maintain family and community relationships?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five key questions, including the care provided and the home's premises; the report says all five ratings remained Good from 14 March 2018. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 March 2024 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
Crownwise Limited - St Andrews was rated Good, with safe and caring support but some areas needing follow-up.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 21 and 26 February 2018. The inspectors spoke with five people, four care staff, the registered manager, two relatives and a healthcare professional. They reviewed care plans, staff files, complaints, maintenance and other records.
The home supported up to eight people with mental health conditions. Inspectors found good arrangements for managing risks, safeguarding, medicines, staff training, care planning and healthcare support. People were generally treated with respect and encouraged to make choices, stay independent and take part in activities.
All five areas were rated Good: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. The report says each rating remained Good. Inspectors did identify some matters to improve, including limited time for staff to chat with people, mixed views about food and activities, and incomplete end-of-life information.
Risk management
The home used detailed risk plans and reviewed them when people's needs changed. Staff said these plans helped them provide safe care.
“Risk management plans gave staff clear guidance on managing identified risks and minimising the risk of a breakdown in their mental health.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were encouraged to make decisions, develop daily living skills and regain independence safely.
“People were supported to make decisions by staff who offered them choices in a way they understood.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans covered mental health, physical health, nutrition, relationships, activities and crisis arrangements. They were reviewed with people, relatives and healthcare professionals.
“Care plans were reviewed regularly to reflect people's changing needs and involved people, their relatives and healthcare professionals.” from the report
Management oversight
The home had regular audits covering areas such as fire safety, care plans and medicines. Issues found through audits were acted on.
“The service carried out daily, weekly, monthly and annual audits of the service.” from the report
Limited time for conversation
minorOne person felt staff were often dealing with other matters. Inspectors also observed that staff did not always have extended periods to spend chatting with people.
“We noted staff did not always have extended periods of time to spend with people just chatting.” from the report
Mixed views about food
minorPeople gave different views about the food. The manager said they would look at ways to encourage healthier eating.
“The food is edible. It's not very nice. Perhaps they could employ a chef to make it more palatable.” from the report
Complaints information
needs fixingPeople were not always aware of the complaints procedure, although complaints received had been investigated and answered.
“People were not always aware of the provider's complaints procedure.” from the report
End-of-life wishes
needs fixingCare plans did not yet contain enough detail about some people's end-of-life wishes, including who should be told and who should attend their funeral. The manager said these plans were being completed by the end of March 2018.
“However, this did not contain sufficient information related to people's wishes, such as who they wanted to be informed of their death and who they would like to be present at their funeral.” from the report
Fire safety refresher training
needs fixingInspectors found that three staff needed fire safety refresher training. The manager said this had been rescheduled by the end of the inspection.
“On the last day of the inspection we identified there were three staff that required fire safety training.” from the report
- 01How much one-to-one time do staff usually spend talking with each resident?
- 02What changes have been made to the food and how are residents' healthy choices supported?
- 03What activities and escorted outings are currently available, and how are residents' preferences included?
- 04How are residents and relatives told about the complaints procedure?
- 05Have all residents' end-of-life wishes now been recorded in enough detail?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions and the care home premises as well as the care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 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 St Andrews
3 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2024Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 30 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.
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