CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Frances Bolitho Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People told inspectors they felt safe. Risks were assessed and reviewed, medicines were audited, and recruitment checks were thorough. However, staffing gaps during COVID-19 sickness and missing records for some safety and cleaning checks were identified.
- Effective?
- Good
- People received care from trained and skilled staff, had their health and nutrition needs monitored, and were involved in decisions. Inspectors noted missing records of staff inductions, missing legal-authority details for some Lasting Power of Attorneys, and poor storage that affected the environment.
- Caring?
- Good
- People, relatives and professionals described staff as friendly, respectful and caring. Staff knew people well, supported independence and involved people in decisions about their care.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans described people's needs, routines and preferences and were regularly updated. People were supported to maintain relationships, access activities and receive end-of-life care. No complaints had been received.
- Well-led?
- Requires improvement
- The clinical lead was committed and people and staff gave positive feedback. However, management arrangements were inconsistent, the registered manager had not visited since May 2022, and oversight of training, supervision and legal applications was not robust.
What inspectors found, September 2022
Frances Bolitho Care Home was rated Good overall, but inspectors found that management oversight required improvement.
This was the home's first inspection. It was unannounced and took place on 10 August 2022. One inspector reviewed care plans, risk assessments, medicines records, staff files and management records. They spoke with people, staff, a relative and healthcare professionals.
Inspectors rated Safe, Effective, Caring and Responsive as Good. They found people were safe, treated kindly, involved in decisions and supported according to their needs. Medicines systems, recruitment, care planning and healthcare support were generally effective.
Well-led was rated Requires Improvement. The registered manager had not visited since May 2022, and the clinical lead did not have a full overview of staff training, supervision and legal applications. Inspectors also found storage, infection-control records and induction records that needed attention.
People felt safe
People said they felt safe, and staff understood how to recognise and report possible abuse. Risks relating to people's care were assessed and regularly reviewed.
“People told us they felt safe with staff.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff knew people well and supported their choices and independence.
“People were treated with kindness and compassion and their privacy and dignity were promoted.” from the report
Personalised care planning
Care plans recorded people's needs, routines, preferences and communication needs. They were reviewed and updated with the person and, where appropriate, their relative.
“Care plans were reviewed and updated regularly with the involvement of the person and their relative if appropriate.” from the report
Medicines management
Medicines were recorded electronically and audits were used to identify and act on problems. Staff had training, and arrangements for refrigerated and covert medicines were in place.
“There were planned audits in place to effectively monitor all aspects of medicines management.” from the report
Management oversight
needs fixingThe registered manager had not visited the home since May 2022 and was also responsible for another service. The clinical lead did not have a full overview of training, supervision or legal applications.
“The registered manager was also registered at another service within the Cornwallis Care Group.” from the report
Storage and building conditions
needs fixingA communal bathroom could not be used because it was filled with equipment. Boxes were stored in corridors and the dining room, while construction noise and dust affected the home.
“One bathroom was unusable as it was completely full of equipment, much of which was not being used.” from the report
Staff induction records
minorNew staff received training and shadowed experienced workers, but the home could not provide records showing that inductions had been completed.
“However, there were no records of new staff having completed an induction when starting to work at Frances Bolitho.” from the report
- 01How often is the registered manager now present at the home, and who has day-to-day responsibility when they are away?
- 02What system is now used to record staff inductions, training and supervision?
- 03How are cleaning tasks and high-touch areas recorded during staff sickness or a COVID-19 outbreak?
- 04What has been done to remove unused equipment and boxes from the bathroom, corridors and dining room?
- 05What is the current position on the delayed permanent building, and how are construction noise and dust being managed?
This was the first inspection of the newly registered home and covered all five key questions, including infection prevention and control under Safe. This explanation was written from the published report of 2 September 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.
Every inspection of Frances Bolitho Care Home
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- September 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2021
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 29 June 2021.
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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10 live-in carers within about two hours of Cornwall
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 £980 to £1,200 a week. 8 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“He had been a little anxious before she arrived, but has since stated that he would be very happy for her to care for him again”
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