CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Gerald House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks were assessed, medicines were managed safely, infection control measures were in place and there appeared to be enough staff.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. Its rating was carried forward from the previous inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. Its rating was carried forward from the previous inspection, although people and relatives spoke positively about the care.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. Its rating was carried forward from the previous inspection, although the report says care responded to people's individual needs.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found a friendly and inclusive culture, regular audits, staff support and effective communication with families and other professionals.
What inspectors found, September 2022
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, person-centred care and good management.
This was an unannounced inspection on 9 August 2022. One inspector and an Expert by Experience spoke with five people, three relatives, two staff members and the registered manager. They also checked care, medicine, recruitment and management records.
The inspection found that people felt safe and that risks, medicines, staffing, recruitment and infection control were managed appropriately. People and relatives spoke positively about the care. Staff were described as friendly, respectful and aware of people's individual needs.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. The other areas were not inspected during this visit. Their ratings, along with the overall Good rating, were carried forward from the previous inspection, published in February 2018.
People felt safe
People and relatives said they felt safe. Inspectors found systems to protect people from abuse and avoidable harm.
“People and their relatives told us that safe care was being provided.” from the report
Individual support
Staff were described as knowing people well and respecting their choices and preferences.
“People received care which was responsive to their individual needs.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
Recruitment checks were completed, there appeared to be enough staff, and staff understood people's medicines.
“There appeared to be enough staff to meet people's needs.” from the report
Good communication
Inspectors found good communication with families and joint working with health and social care professionals.
“Communication between staff, people and their families was effective.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What work from the ongoing refurbishment plan has been completed, and what work is still outstanding?
- 02How are medicines being managed following the new way of working with the GP surgery and pharmacy?
- 03How do you assess and review risks such as skin damage for each person?
- 04How will you use feedback from people, relatives and staff to identify further improvements?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led, including infection prevention and control; the other ratings and the overall rating were carried forward from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 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.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection control and visiting arrangements were safe.
This was a targeted inspection on 13 January 2022. It looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements, and whether staffing pressures linked to COVID-19 affected care.
Inspectors found that visitors were checked, staff used protective equipment, testing was available, and cleaning schedules were in place. Plans were also available for people who needed to self-isolate.
The home supported visits and helped people keep in touch with relatives using indoor and outdoor visits and FaceTime. Staff also supported people to access healthcare safely.
The home was inspected but not rated. Inspectors only looked at parts of the Safe question, so this report does not provide a new overall rating or ratings for the other questions.
Infection prevention
Inspectors were assured that the home used protective equipment safely, supported testing, maintained hygiene and had an up-to-date infection control policy.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Safe visiting
The home had arrangements for visits and helped people maintain contact with relatives in different ways.
“The service had systems for safe visiting to allow people to see and speak to their friends and relatives.” from the report
Support during isolation
Plans were in place for people who needed to self-isolate, including extra support for those who might find isolation difficult.
“Additional support was provided for those people who may struggle with isolation.” from the report
Cleaning and healthcare
Staff supported people to access healthcare safely, and domestic staff used daily cleaning schedules.
“Daily cleaning schedules were implemented by domestic staff.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you managing any current staffing pressures linked to COVID-19?
- 02What testing arrangements are currently in place for residents and staff?
- 03How do you support people who need to self-isolate, especially those who find isolation difficult?
- 04What are the current arrangements for indoor and outdoor visits and contact by video call?
- 05How do you make sure visiting staff and professionals meet the COVID-19 vaccination requirements?
This was a targeted inspection of staffing pressures and infection prevention, control and visiting arrangements; it did not assess the other key questions and the Safe rating was not changed. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 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.
Every inspection of Gerald House
4 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has improved, from Inadequate to Good.
- September 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- February 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2016Requires improvementup from InadequateSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2016InadequateSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 22 December 2010.
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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40 live-in carers within about an hour of Wirral
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 £1,230 a week. 37 can care for a couple. 8 years' experience on average.
“It was clear that she genuinely cared and her warm approach really helped put our minds at ease.”
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during the night.”
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.