CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Foundation House
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- People told inspectors they felt safe. Risk assessments, safeguarding procedures, staffing, recruitment, medicines and infection control were found to be effective.
- Effective?
- Outstanding
- People received highly skilled support based on current best practice. Specialist staff and assistive technology helped people improve their health, communication, independence and daily lives.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Inspectors saw compassionate, kind and respectful care. People and relatives said staff understood their needs and supported their dignity, choices, relationships and beliefs.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Support was highly personalised and focused on people's goals, interests and communication needs. People were supported to take part in holidays, work, volunteering, social activities and hobbies.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Inspectors found strong leadership, teamwork and a clear person-centred vision. Quality checks, partnership working and learning from incidents supported continued improvement.
What inspectors found, April 2020
Rated Outstanding overall; inspectors found exceptionally effective, caring, responsive and well-led support, with safety rated Good.
Inspectors visited on 6, 10 and 11 March 2020. They spoke with seven people, four relatives, five staff members and one visiting professional. They reviewed care, medicines, recruitment, staff support and management records.
The home supported 12 people with acquired brain injuries, physical disabilities, learning disabilities and mental health needs. Inspectors found kind and respectful care, highly skilled staff, strong support from health professionals and excellent opportunities for people to make choices, build independence and enjoy activities.
Safety was rated Good. The other four areas were rated Outstanding. Effective, responsive and well-led care improved from Good at the previous inspection, while caring remained Outstanding. The overall rating improved from Good to Outstanding.
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives praised staff for their kindness and compassion. Inspectors observed respectful care that protected privacy, dignity and choice.
“Throughout this inspection it was evident that people were cared for with compassion and kindness.” from the report
Skilled staff
Staff received detailed training tailored to people's complex needs. The provider also used specialist health professionals to support staff learning.
“People were supported by staff who had received exceptional training and support to carry out their role.” from the report
Independence and technology
The home used communication aids, environmental controls and other technology to help people manage daily tasks, communicate and become more independent.
“People were very confident in using a variety of assistive technologies on their own terms to develop their independence and autonomy” from the report
Active and fulfilling lives
People were supported to follow their interests and take part in holidays, work, volunteering, fishing, music and community activities.
“People told us they led an active life.” from the report
Strong leadership
The management team was visible, approachable and committed to improving people's lives. Inspectors found robust quality checks and a strong culture of learning.
“There was a robust quality assurance system in place to ensure people received the best possible service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you assess and meet my relative's specific health, communication and moving and handling needs?
- 02Which assistive technologies or communication aids could be used to support my relative's independence?
- 03How would you help my relative continue their hobbies, work, volunteering, holidays or community activities?
- 04How are relatives involved in developing and reviewing care plans?
- 05How do you make sure staff, including agency staff, have the training needed for my relative's complex needs?
This was a planned inspection covering the home, the care provided and the five CQC questions; it also considered domiciliary care provided to one person living in a self-contained flat on the premises. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 April 2020 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, September 2017
Rated Good overall; inspectors found exceptionally caring support, strong independence work and safe, well-managed care.
This was an unannounced inspection on 24 and 25 April 2017. Inspectors spoke with eight people living in the home, four relatives and members of staff. They also reviewed care records, medicines records, recruitment files, training records, complaints and safety checks.
The home supported up to 11 people with physical and learning disabilities and acquired brain injuries. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines arrangements, suitable training and good monitoring of people's health and risks. People were supported to make choices, build confidence, use the community and develop greater independence.
Care was rated Outstanding because staff were exceptionally kind, understood people's complex communication needs and helped people keep important relationships. The other four areas were rated Good. The overall rating was Good, the same as at the previous inspection in January 2015.
Kind and compassionate care
Inspectors found staff to be exceptionally kind and sensitive to people's feelings. They gave people time, patience and emotional support.
“People were cared for by staff who were exceptionally kind and who delivered care in a compassionate way.” from the report
People had control
Staff worked hard to help people make their own choices, including people who found communication difficult. Care planning centred on each person's wishes and goals.
“This approach kept the person receiving care consistently at the centre of all care planning and decision making.” from the report
Good health support
Staff knew people's health needs and worked closely with specialist professionals. They responded quickly when people's health changed.
“People's health needs were reviewed and care and treatment provided and altered as required.” from the report
Strong family relationships
Staff helped people stay in contact with family and friends, including when visits needed extra planning or financial support.
“People's ability to maintain relationships with those who mattered to them and their right to private family life was integral to the support staff provided.” from the report
Earlier security incidents
needs fixingThe report records opportunist thefts by people outside the home. Management changed the security arrangements, added CCTV and strengthened visitor checks, and inspectors saw the new arrangements working.
“Opportunist thefts, by persons outside of the service, had taken place.” from the report
- 01What security arrangements are now in place, and how are visitor checks and CCTV kept under review?
- 02How would you support my relative's particular communication needs, especially if they became unwell or needed hospital treatment?
- 03What life skills, community activities or work opportunities would be available for my relative?
- 04How would you involve my relative and our family in care planning and decisions about best interests?
- 05How is nursing support arranged when a nurse is not present at the home?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five quality areas at the main home; people living in separate on-site flats were not receiving personal care from the service at the time. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 September 2017 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. The report was longer than we could read in one go; the later sections may not be reflected.
Every inspection of Foundation House
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- April 2020Outstandingcurrent ratingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: OutstandingCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- September 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 8 September 2014.
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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
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38 live-in carers within about an hour of 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 £1,030 to £1,360 a week. 31 can care for a couple. 12 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.