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CQC report explained · a residential care home

What the CQC found at Friary House

Inadequatepublished 13 June 2025, 15 months ago

Rated Inadequate: inspectors found the home performing badly and the CQC has taken enforcement action.

The latest report, explained

What inspectors found, April 2021

Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control measures were in place.

The inspection took place on 25 March 2021 and was announced. It was a targeted inspection during the COVID-19 pandemic, focused on infection prevention and control in the home.

Inspectors found good practice. Staff used personal protective equipment properly, had enough supplies, followed testing and isolation arrangements, and supported people to keep contact with family and friends.

The inspectors were assured about preventing infections, visiting arrangements, admissions, testing, hygiene, outbreak planning and the infection control policy. The home was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give a usual overall quality rating.

What inspectors praised
  • Infection prevention

    Staff wore PPE correctly and there were sufficient supplies and safe facilities for putting it on and removing it.

    “PPE stations were located throughout the building and there were facilities to remove PPE safely.” from the report
  • Testing and outbreak planning

    People and staff took part in whole-home testing, and the home had plans to reduce cross-infection if someone tested positive.

    “Contingency planning included the cohorting of staff to reduce the chances of cross infection if anyone living in the home tested positive.” from the report
  • Contact with loved ones

    During isolation, staff made additional visits and supported people to use telephone and video calls with family and friends.

    “People were also supported with telephone and video calls with friends and loved ones.” from the report
  • Oversight of infection control

    The manager used infection control audits and action plans to follow up any required improvements.

    “Infection prevention and control audits took place and action plans were developed to follow up on any required actions.” from the report
What inspectors were concerned about

Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.

Questions to ask them, based on this report
  1. 01How are visits currently planned to reduce the risk of infection?
  2. 02How do you support people who need to isolate to stay in contact with family and friends?
  3. 03How often are infection prevention and control audits carried out, and what actions are still open?
  4. 04What is the current plan if a resident or staff member tests positive?
  5. 05Who provides nursing care, and how is this coordinated with the home?

This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 April 2021 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.

An earlier report, explained

What inspectors found, June 2018

Rated Good in all five areas; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with improvements since the previous inspection.

Inspectors carried out a comprehensive inspection over 3 and 4 May 2018. The first day was unannounced. They spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and health professionals, and checked care records, medicines, recruitment files and quality checks.

They found enough suitably checked staff, safe medicines management, reviewed risk assessments and a clean, well-maintained home. Staff understood safeguarding, consent and how to support people who could not make particular decisions.

People described staff as kind, respectful and unhurried. The home supported choice, independence, activities and contact with health professionals. The overall rating stayed Good, and Effective improved to Good because earlier recording problems under the Mental Capacity Act had been resolved.

What inspectors praised
  • Kind and respectful staff

    Staff were consistently described and observed as kind, friendly, respectful and unhurried.

    “Throughout the inspection we saw staff demonstrating a kind and caring approach towards people.” from the report
  • Safe staffing

    The home used a monthly dependency check to make sure staffing levels matched people's needs. Inspectors also saw staff respond promptly to call bells.

    “There were enough staff to meet people's needs. A dependency tool was used monthly to ensure that staffing levels continued to match people's needs.” from the report
  • Personal choice and independence

    People were involved in decisions about their care, clothing, food, activities and daily routines. Staff encouraged people to keep doing what they could for themselves.

    “People were supported to have choice and had care in line with what they needed and wanted.” from the report
  • Effective health support

    The home worked closely with health professionals, including regular visits from a GP and nurse practitioner. This helped staff respond to health needs.

    “The home had developed a good working relationship with the local district nursing team.” from the report
What inspectors were concerned about

Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.

Questions to ask them, based on this report
  1. 01What was the outcome of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards applications that were awaiting a decision at the inspection?
  2. 02Has the planned replacement lift been installed, and what arrangements are in place if the current lift stops working?
  3. 03How do you currently check that staffing levels match people's changing needs?
  4. 04How do you support people living with dementia to make decisions and give consent?
  5. 05How are people's end-of-life wishes recorded and kept up to date?

This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, and the overall Good rating had not changed since the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 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.

The story over the years

Every inspection of Friary House

2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.

  1. April 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent rating
    Safe: Inspected but not rated

    Read what inspectors found at Friary House →

  2. June 2018Goodstayed Good
    Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good

    Read what inspectors found at Friary House →

  3. April 2016Good
    Safe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  4. July 2014

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  5. February 2014

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  6. April 2013

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  7. April 2011

    Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 4 April 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.

Next steps

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