CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Gittisham Hill House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, December 2018
Gittisham Hill House was rated Good overall, with Outstanding care and kind, person-centred support, while two fire doors needed immediate repair.
Inspectors carried out a comprehensive inspection on 17 and 24 August 2018. The first visit was unannounced and the second was arranged in advance. They spoke with people living at the home, visitors, staff and health professionals. They also checked care plans, medicines records, staff files, complaints, accidents and the safety of the building.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Responsive and Well-led. It was rated Outstanding for Caring. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines arrangements, good training, suitable food and strong links with health professionals. People were treated with warmth, dignity and respect, and had activities suited to their interests.
There were some issues during the inspection. Two bedroom doors did not close properly to help prevent the spread of fire, but they were repaired during the visit. The home was recruiting to fill vacancies and was using regular agency staff. Care records were being moved to a new format.
Exceptionally caring staff
Staff showed warmth, empathy and respect. They took time to understand people's histories, preferences and distress, and supported people in ways that mattered to them.
“People received exceptionally kind, compassionate care and support.” from the report
Person-centred culture
The home adapted care, bedrooms, routines and activities to individual people. Staff supported independence and helped people maintain familiar interests.
“The service had an extremely positive culture that was person-centred, open, inclusive and empowering.” from the report
Good activities and social contact
People could take part in group and one-to-one activities, including music, gardening, trips, baking and hobbies. Activities were adapted to people's abilities and mood.
“People had a range of meaningful and interesting activities, which reflected their interests, preferences and abilities.” from the report
Learning from falls
The home worked with health professionals and made changes to the building, equipment and exercise programme. Inspectors said the number of falls had reduced significantly.
“As a result of actions taken by the service the number of falls people experienced had declined significantly.” from the report
Good staff training
Staff received induction, supervision and a range of training. More than half had a recognised health and social care qualification, with others working towards one.
“The staff team were well trained and supported to have the skills to achieve good outcomes for people.” from the report
Fire door repairs were needed
seriousTwo bedroom doors did not close properly, so they would not have helped prevent fire or smoke spreading in an emergency. The doors were adjusted during the inspection.
“We reviewed the fire safety arrangements and identified two bedroom doors which did not close properly.” from the report
Staff vacancies
minorThe home was recruiting to fill vacancies. In the meantime, it used regular agency staff, although inspectors found staffing levels were sufficient and agency workers knew people well.
“The registered manager was in the process of recruiting to staff vacancies.” from the report
- 01How many staff vacancies are there now, and how often are agency staff used on day and night shifts?
- 02What checks are now in place to make sure all bedroom fire doors close properly?
- 03How is the move to the new care-record format progressing, and how do you make sure records stay accurate during the change?
- 04Who is managing the home now, and when will that manager be registered with the CQC?
- 05How are activities adapted for people who prefer one-to-one support or remain in their bedrooms?
This was a comprehensive first inspection covering all five CQC questions; the report also says that, after the visit, the registered manager moved to another role and a new manager was appointed. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 December 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 report was longer than we could read in one go; the later sections may not be reflected.
Every inspection of Gittisham Hill House
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- December 2018Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2017
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 25 August 2017.
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
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17 live-in carers within about an hour of Devon
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 £1,270 a week. 15 can care for a couple. 13 years' experience on average.
“She is such a warm and gentle person while being professional and competent at the same time.”
“She looked after my mum, who can be incredibly challenging, so well and so gently, and we always felt confident that my mum was getting the best care available.”
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.