CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Gate Cottage Rest Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, April 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with responsive care improved since the previous inspection.
This was an unannounced, planned comprehensive inspection on 26 February 2019. One inspector spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and the manager. They also checked care records, medicines, staffing, accidents, complaints and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, good cleanliness and suitable risk assessments. People were treated with kindness, involved in decisions and supported to stay independent.
Care was personalised and people were supported with their interests, healthcare and end of life care. The Responsive rating improved from Requires Improvement to Good because care records now included people's backgrounds and preferences. The overall rating remained Good, as it was at the previous inspection in May 2016.
Safe staffing
Inspectors found enough suitable staff on duty and said staffing levels were consistently maintained. Staff did not rely on agency workers.
“There were enough suitable staff on duty to care for people safely.” from the report
Personalised assessment
Assessments considered people's physical health, mental health, social needs and personal choices. Care plans gave staff clear guidance.
“People's needs and choices had been assessed in a holistic way to take account of people's mental health, physical health and their social needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People described staff as kind and caring. Inspectors observed relaxed, positive interactions and found that privacy, dignity and independence were respected.
“All the staff are so kind, I couldn't ask for more.” from the report
Staff knew people well
Staff understood people's backgrounds, routines and interests. This helped them provide care that matched what mattered to each person.
“Staff knew the people they were caring for well, they were able to describe people's backgrounds, their interests and they knew what was important to people.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The manager used checks and audits to monitor care. Inspectors found that action was taken when problems were identified.
“The registered manager had oversight of the service and used audits to check that standards of quality were maintained.” from the report
No formal improvement planning tool
minorThe manager had not used a planning tool to record improvements and planned developments. Inspectors still found a clear vision for the home and other quality monitoring systems.
“The registered manager did not use a planning tool to identify improvements and planned developments at the service.” from the report
Limited commissioner contact
minorThe manager recognised that contact with local commissioners was limited and described plans to improve these links.
“The registered manager recognised that they had little contact with local commissioners” from the report
- 01How do you record and track improvements now that the inspection found there was no formal planning tool?
- 02How do you make sure each person's background, preferences and changing needs are reflected in their care plan?
- 03What steps have you taken to improve links with local commissioners?
- 04How do you check that staffing levels remain sufficient when people's needs change or staff are unavailable?
- 05How are families involved in care reviews, complaints and decisions about end of life care?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions and both the care and premises provided by the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 April 2019 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 Gate Cottage Rest Home
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 22 September 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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46 live-in carers within about an hour of Brighton and Hove
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 £1,280 a week. 37 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Lottie showed incredible patience and empathy, adapting her routine to fit in with Mum's moods. Most importantly, Lottie's cheerful manner helped Mum to get some enjoyment out of life.”
“He was infinitely patient with them and got on very well with us to the extent that we now regard him as a personal friend.”
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.