CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Hembury Fort House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff, appropriate recruitment checks, reviewed risk assessments and safe medicines systems. The home also had emergency plans, equipment checks and good cleanliness.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff were trained, supported and assessed as competent. People received support from health professionals, and staff monitored nutrition, hydration and changing health needs.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were described and observed as kind, patient, respectful and warm. They listened to people, offered choices and supported friendships.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Care plans were detailed, person-centred and regularly reviewed. Staff responded flexibly to individual emotions, communication needs, changing health and personal goals, and provided a wide range of activities and community links.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The management was accessible and encouraged feedback, learning and improvement. Quality checks, complaints handling and communication systems supported the running of the home.
What inspectors found, October 2018
Hembury Fort House was rated Good overall, with Outstanding personalised and responsive care.
Inspectors made an unannounced comprehensive visit on 6 and 7 September 2018. They spoke with people living at the home, visitors, staff and health professionals. They observed care and reviewed care plans, medicines, staff records and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring and Well-led. Inspectors found enough experienced staff, safe medicines systems, suitable risk checks, kind staff and good teamwork. The home was clean and people had access to health professionals.
Responsive care was rated Outstanding. Inspectors found that care was planned around each person's history, wishes, communication needs and changing health. People were supported to take part in activities, maintain relationships and use the local community.
The overall Good rating stayed the same as at the previous inspection. The Responsive rating improved to Outstanding. Inspectors found no serious risks or concerns.
Personalised care
Staff used people's histories, preferences and communication methods to shape their care. Inspectors found that care plans were kept up to date and agreed with people where possible.
“Care plans were tailored to meet people's individual needs and were regularly reviewed.” from the report
Flexible support
Staff adapted support when people's emotions, health or circumstances changed. People were helped to build confidence, remain involved and pursue personal goals.
“People's experiences were at the centre of the service and staff responded in a flexible and responsive manner.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Staff listened carefully, included quieter people and treated people as equals. Inspectors saw gentle and sensitive interactions.
“They took time to ensure they heard quieter people's opinions; staff were patient and kind involving people and offering choices.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
There were enough staff who knew people well. Medicines records were well maintained and systems were in place to reduce errors.
“The service had good systems in place to support staff to administer medicines safely.” from the report
Improving environment
The home had completed major refurbishment and created a more accessible garden. People valued the brighter bedrooms, new spaces and access to the grounds.
“We saw numerous examples of the improvements that had been made to the service since the last inspection” from the report
Choice of meals
needs fixingSeveral people said there was a lack of choice of meals. Alternatives were available, but the manager planned to review how people were told about them.
“Several people commented to us there was lack of choice of meals.” from the report
- 01How do you make sure residents know what alternative meals are available?
- 02How are care plans updated when a person's emotions, health or communication needs change?
- 03What activities and trips are currently available, and how are residents' choices used to plan them?
- 04How do you make sure there are enough staff on duty who know my relative's needs?
- 05What improvements have been made since the refurbishment and the appointment of a staff member to increase meaningful activities?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions, with care, premises, medicines, staffing and management records examined. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 October 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 Hembury Fort House
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- October 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- March 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 8 February 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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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.