CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Eridge House Rest Home
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, appropriate risk assessments, safe medicines systems and suitable infection control arrangements.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found effective oversight, audits and communication with people, relatives, staff and health professionals. People were encouraged to give feedback, and managers acted on suggestions.
What inspectors found, December 2022
Rated Good; inspectors found safe care and strong management, but there was no registered manager in post.
The unannounced inspection took place over 29 November and 5 December 2022. One inspector spoke with people, relatives, staff and health professionals. They reviewed care plans, risk assessments, medicines records, staff records and management records, and observed care in a communal area.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe recruitment, suitable risk assessments and safe medicines arrangements. The home was clean and well maintained. People and relatives said they felt safe and listened to.
The overall rating stayed Good, the same as at the previous inspection published in June 2018. This inspection was part of a random check of services already rated Good or Outstanding. The other key questions were not inspected and their previous ratings were used in calculating the overall rating.
Enough staff
Inspectors found staffing levels were stable and that people received care without being rushed. Call bells were answered promptly during the inspection.
“There were enough staff to keep people safe.” from the report
Safe care planning
Individual risk assessments covered areas such as falls, nutrition, weight and skin care. These were reviewed to help reduce the risk of harm.
“Risks to people's safety were assessed and reviewed.” from the report
Medicines safety
Medicines were stored, given and disposed of safely. Staff who administered medicines had training and competency checks.
“Medicines were stored, administered and disposed of safely.” from the report
Open management
Managers were visible and approachable. Feedback from people, relatives and staff was recorded, shared and used to make changes.
“The management team were approachable and available to people, staff and visitors.” from the report
Learning from incidents
Accidents and incidents were reviewed, with changes made to risk assessments and care arrangements where needed.
“This demonstrated that learning from incidents and accidents took place.” from the report
No registered manager
needs fixingThere was no registered manager in post when inspectors visited. Two managers were working together and were in the process of registering with the CQC.
“At the time of our inspection there was no registered manager in post.” from the report
- 01Have the two managers now completed their CQC registration, and who is responsible for the home day to day?
- 02How do you check that each person's risk assessments remain up to date, especially for falls, nutrition and skin care?
- 03How do you make sure there is a trained medicine giver on every shift?
- 04What changes have you made after recent accidents, incidents or safeguarding concerns?
- 05How will you keep relatives informed about care changes, medicines reviews and feedback from meetings?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led; the other key question ratings were carried over from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 December 2022 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, June 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with clear improvements since the previous inspection.
This was an unannounced, comprehensive inspection on 29 March 2018. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, visitors and staff. They observed care, medicines and daily interactions, and checked care plans, medicine records, staff files, complaints and quality checks.
The inspectors found that medicines were managed safely, risks were assessed and there were enough staff. People were supported to make choices, stay as independent as possible, eat and drink well, and access health professionals. Staff were described as kind, respectful and familiar with people's needs.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The previous overall rating in August 2016 was Requires Improvement. The report says the home had met legal requirements and improved its medicines management, quality checks and reporting of incidents to CQC.
Safe medicines
Medicines were securely stored, given by trained staff and recorded correctly. Staff also checked whether as-needed medicines had worked.
“The medicine administration records (MAR) were checked by each member of staff when they gave out medicines to ensure there were no errors, such as gaps, and we found the MAR to be completed correctly.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People said staff were kind and understanding. Staff asked before providing help and respected people's choices about their daily lives.
“Staff knew people very well and ensured that their privacy and dignity was protected.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans recorded people's individual needs, preferences and interests. Staff were kept informed when people's needs changed.
“Care plans were personalised; they identified each person's individual needs and there was guidance for staff to follow to ensure people received appropriate care and support.” from the report
Improved management
Since the previous inspection, the quality monitoring system had been reviewed. Audits covered areas including medicines, care plans, accidents and activities.
“The quality assurance system had been reviewed and areas for change had been identified and prioritised to drive improvement.” from the report
Choice and activities
People could choose how to spend their time and whether to join activities. The programme included entertainment, exercise, cooking, gardening, games and films.
“We respect their preferences and certainly don't pressure residents to join in if they don't want to.” from the report
Accessible information training
minorThe home used communication passports where needed, but the report says training for all staff on the Accessible Information Standard was still to be arranged.
“The deputy manager said training would be arranged to ensure all staff had a clear understanding of AIS.” from the report
Memory clinic referral pending
minorFor one person who had become more forgetful, a referral to a memory clinic had been requested but had not yet been arranged at the inspection.
“They had contacted one person's GP for a referral to the memory clinic and this had yet to be arranged” from the report
- 01What progress has been made with training all staff on accessible information and communication needs?
- 02Has the outstanding memory clinic referral been arranged, and how are changing memory or confusion needs monitored?
- 03How are medicines reviewed when a person's needs change, and how are families involved where appropriate?
- 04How will you assess whether staffing is enough if a resident becomes unwell or needs more one-to-one support?
- 05How are residents and relatives able to give feedback if they do not attend group meetings?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions and the overall service. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 June 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 Eridge House Rest Home
4 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- December 2022Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2016Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- September 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- July 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2014
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 5 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.