CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at High Broom Care Home
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control arrangements were in place. This included safe visitor procedures, testing, use of PPE, cleaning, social distancing and managing outbreaks.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, March 2021
High Broom Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection prevention during a COVID-19 outbreak.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 23 February 2021. It looked at infection prevention and control because the home had a recent COVID-19 outbreak.
Inspectors were assured that the home was managing visitors, testing, personal protective equipment, social distancing, cleaning and admissions safely. The home was closed to visitors except in exceptional circumstances at the time.
Staff continued activities in different ways, including one-to-one activities, virtual church services and links with other care homes. Relatives were kept informed through regular updates and a weekly newsletter.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the inspection does not provide an overall CQC quality rating or ratings for the other main areas of care.
Infection control
The home had arrangements for visitor testing, social distancing, PPE, cleaning and managing COVID-19 outbreaks. Inspectors were assured across all the infection prevention areas they checked.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Visitor arrangements
Although visitors were restricted during the outbreak, the home had planned a separate entrance, testing area and waiting area for when visits could resume.
“There was a separate entrance for visitors which led them into a testing area.” from the report
Activities and communication
Staff adapted activities during the outbreak and kept people and relatives informed about guidance, activities and changes in the home.
“Staff produced a weekly newsletter called the 'HB Herald' which kept people and relatives informed of activities, fun events, staff information and actions taken from the Feedback Friday meetings.” from the report
Staff support
Staff had welfare checks and individual risk assessments relating to COVID-19. The registered manager provided extra support or signposted staff to outside support when needed.
“Staff had individual risk assessments in place to assess for factors that may increase the staff member's risk from COVID-19.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What are the current arrangements for visiting, and have they changed since the COVID-19 outbreak described in this report?
- 02How are visitors, new residents and staff tested now?
- 03How does the home make sure PPE supplies, cleaning and infection control procedures remain up to date?
- 04What activities are currently available, including one-to-one activities for people who cannot join group activities?
- 05What are the home's current CQC ratings for caring, effectiveness, responsiveness and being well-led?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during a COVID-19 outbreak; the service was inspected but not rated and the other main areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 March 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.
What inspectors found, December 2019
Rated Outstanding overall; inspectors found exceptional caring and leadership, with Good ratings for safety, effectiveness and responsiveness.
This was an unannounced inspection on 11 November 2019. One inspector and a specialist dementia adviser spoke with people, relatives, staff and a healthcare professional. They observed care and checked care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
People and relatives gave very positive feedback. Inspectors found kind, personalised care that respected people's dignity, choices and independence. Activities, food, dementia support and end of life care were tailored to people's needs.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective and Responsive. It was rated Outstanding for Caring and Well-led. The overall rating was Outstanding.
The previous overall rating was Good, published in April 2017. Well-led improved from Good to Outstanding, while the other key question ratings stayed the same.
Kind, individual care
Staff adapted care to each person's history, preferences and emotional needs. Inspectors saw people treated with warmth, respect and compassion.
“People received exceptional care that was tailored to their needs and wishes.” from the report
Dementia support
The home had developed its dementia care since the previous inspection. Staff used training and creative approaches to understand distress and support meaningful daily life.
“The staff team were dedicated, compassionate and strove to provide high quality dementia care.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were involved in decisions about their care and the running of the home. Staff supported individual goals, relationships and independence.
“People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives” from the report
Strong leadership
Inspectors found exceptional and distinctive leadership. People, relatives and staff were involved, listened to and kept informed.
“The service was exceptionally well-led.” from the report
Safe care systems
Staffing, recruitment, medicines, risk management and infection control were all found to be safe. Incidents were reviewed so lessons could be learned.
“Accidents, near misses and other incidents were analysed so lessons could be learned, and improvements made.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have you maintained the care standards described in this 2019 report?
- 02How do you assess and manage my relative's risk of falls while supporting their independence?
- 03How will you tailor activities and daily care to my relative's interests, history and dementia needs?
- 04How are relatives kept informed about changes in a person's care and wellbeing?
- 05How do you make sure medicines are given at the right time and recorded accurately?
This was an unannounced inspection of the care home covering all five CQC key questions and the overall quality and safety of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 31 December 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. The report was longer than we could read in one go; the later sections may not be reflected.
Every inspection of High Broom Care Home
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2019Outstandingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Outstanding
- April 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2015
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 18 September 2015.
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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19 live-in carers within about an hour of East Sussex
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 £1,000 to £1,400 a week. 13 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“When he point blank refused to go into hospital for a life saving blood transfusion she talked him through the situation and agreed to go in the ambulance with him and stayed until he was settled.”
“Una felt safe, secure and loved in her time with Debbie which is a gift that I am eternally grateful for.”
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.