CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Frenchay Park Gardens Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Requires improvement
- Inspectors were assured that infection risks were managed through PPE, cleaning, testing, hygiene, social distancing and visitor controls. They were also told that staffing was manageable and that COVID-19-related staffing risks were being addressed.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Frenchay Park Gardens Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control and manageable staffing during the pandemic.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 11 February 2022. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control, and asked about staffing pressures linked to COVID-19.
Inspectors were assured that the home used PPE safely, supported hand hygiene, kept the building clean and followed testing, isolation and social distancing measures. There were clear visitor arrangements, including sign-in, temperature checks, PPE and negative lateral flow tests.
People living at the home said they felt safe and that staff were nice. The home was supporting family visits, including visits at the end of life, and had arrangements for essential caregivers during an outbreak.
The service was marked inspected but not rated. This was not a full inspection of the home's overall quality, so the report does not give ratings for care, treatment, responsiveness or leadership.
Infection control
Staff used and disposed of PPE safely, sanitised their hands and followed cleaning procedures. Inspectors were assured that the home had up-to-date infection prevention arrangements.
“Staff followed safe infection prevention and control procedures, including the safe wearing and disposal of personal protective equipment (PPE).” from the report
Clean environment
The home had regular cleaning schedules and hygiene procedures, with PPE stations around the building.
“Housekeeping staff followed robust cleaning schedules and procedures to ensure the premises were kept clean and hygienic.” from the report
Family visits
Visits were organised safely, including visits during outbreaks and for people receiving end-of-life care. Relatives could also become essential caregivers under set procedures.
“People's relatives and significant others were given the option to become an essential care giver.” from the report
Staffing arrangements
The manager said staffing was manageable. Extra hours were monitored so staff were not overworked, and recruitment was continuing.
“The registered manager told us they were not experiencing any workforce pressures and that staffing was manageable.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have your infection prevention and control arrangements changed since the inspection in February 2022?
- 02How are visits arranged during an outbreak, and how would you support end-of-life visits?
- 03Can a relative become an essential caregiver, and what testing or other procedures would apply?
- 04How do you monitor staffing levels, overtime and staff workload?
- 05How do you check that staff and visiting professionals meet the current vaccination or exemption requirements?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it was not a full inspection and the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 February 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, March 2018
Rated Good overall, but Safe Requires Improvement because risks and infection controls were not always managed consistently.
Inspectors carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 23 January 2018. They spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and a visiting health professional. They also observed care, medicines and equipment, and checked care records, staff files and quality checks.
Overall, the home remained Good, the same as at the previous inspection in October 2015. Inspectors found kind and respectful care, suitable staff training, safe medicines management, food choices and care plans that reflected people's needs.
The main concerns were under Safe. Pressure-relieving mattress settings were wrong for three people, and repositioning records were not always completed. The laundry arrangements could increase the risk of infection. The home took immediate action on some issues and had plans for further building work.
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives gave positive feedback about staff. Inspectors saw people treated with dignity, respect and kindness, with their choices supported.
“Staff were kind and caring. We found people were being treated with dignity and respect and people's privacy was maintained.” from the report
Medicines management
Inspectors observed medicines being given respectfully and found no gaps in the medicine records checked. Medicines were stored securely and errors were followed up.
“People's medicines were managed safely and audits and checks were completed.” from the report
Staff training and support
Staff received induction, supervision and regular training. Records showed updates in areas including safeguarding, moving and handling and infection control.
“Staff received supervision and training to ensure they could meet people's needs.” from the report
Individual care planning
Care plans covered people's physical, mental, emotional and social needs. Records were checked and plans were reviewed with people and relatives.
“Care plans were designed to reflect individual needs, choices and preferences in 'person centred assessment' records.” from the report
Pressure care was not always followed
seriousThree people had incorrect pressure mattress settings despite records saying the checks were correct. Repositioning records were also not always completed, which could put people at risk of skin damage.
“This meant people may not have received the pressure relief they needed, and were therefore at risk of their skin condition deteriorating.” from the report
Infection control arrangements
seriousThe laundry did not separate clean and soiled linen. A communal toilet was also used to store soiled items, and inspectors recommended further guidance on infection control.
“It did not provide separate areas for clean and soiled linen. This is required to comply with current health and safety guidance.” from the report
Activities were limited for some people
minorActivities and one-to-one support were available, but most people inspectors spoke with wanted more activities and said they were sometimes bored.
“Not enough, I am bored a lot of the time.” from the report
Consent was not always checked
needs fixingMost people said staff asked before providing care, but two people said some staff did not always ask. This suggests practice was not consistent.
“The majority do but one or two don't” from the report
- 01How do you now check that pressure-relieving mattress settings are correct for each person?
- 02How do you make sure repositioning is carried out and recorded at the required times?
- 03Have the planned separate laundry facilities and sluice been completed, and how are clean and soiled items kept apart now?
- 04What has been done to provide more activities for people who said they were bored?
- 05How do you make sure every staff member asks for consent before providing care?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five questions, so all five ratings were assessed at the visit. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 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 Frenchay Park Gardens Care Home
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Frenchay Park Gardens Care Home →
- March 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Frenchay Park Gardens Care Home →
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2012
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 30 April 2012.
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
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
40 live-in carers within about an hour of Bristol, City of
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 £1,300 a week. 34 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She became a good friend to my mother in law, chatting with her, dancing with her, knitting with her and the list goes on”
“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.