CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Homelea Residential Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed through cleaning, testing, protective equipment, visitor arrangements and an up-to-date infection control policy. The provider also said it had measures to manage COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, March 2022
Homelea Residential Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control during a COVID-19 outbreak.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 8 March 2022. Inspectors gave 24 hours' notice and focused on infection prevention and control, as well as any staffing pressures linked to COVID-19.
The home was clean and tidy. Inspectors were assured that the home used personal protective equipment safely, followed testing arrangements, managed visitors and admissions safely, and had an up-to-date infection control policy.
People were supported to keep in touch with family and friends through visits, trips out, telephone calls and video calls. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Clean premises
The home was clean and tidy, with regular cleaning that included frequently touched areas.
“The home was clean and tidy throughout. There was a cleaning schedule and this helped ensure the home was cleaned regularly including high touch points such as door handles and handrails.” from the report
Family contact
People could stay in contact with family and friends through arranged visits and, during the outbreak, through telephone and video calls.
“People were supported to maintain contact with their family and friends.” from the report
Infection controls
Inspectors were assured that testing, protective equipment, visitor checks and infection control arrangements were being used.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Safe visiting arrangements
Visitors used an appointment system and a separate entrance to help them meet their relatives safely.
“A separate entrance for visitors had been created and they were supported to meet safely with their loved ones.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you currently managing staffing pressures linked to COVID-19 or other infections?
- 02What arrangements are now in place for family visits and for people going out to see relatives?
- 03How do you manage the risk of infection when people living with dementia cannot always keep their distance from others?
- 04How do you currently test residents, staff and visitors, and what protective equipment is available?
- 05When was the infection prevention and control policy last reviewed?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it was not a full service rating and the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 30 March 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, August 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with major improvements since the previous inspection.
Inspectors visited without warning on 9 and 10 July 2019. They spoke with people, relatives, staff and health professionals. They observed care and reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff files, rotas, complaints, accidents and quality checks.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People said they felt safe and well cared for. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practice, suitable training, good food, access to health professionals and respectful relationships.
Activities and management systems had improved significantly since the previous inspection. The home had met the two warning notices issued after the 2018 inspection and was no longer breaching regulations. Some recording systems still needed refinement, including mental capacity documents and some kitchen checks.
People felt safe
People and relatives said they felt safe. Staff identified and reviewed risks, and responded promptly when people needed help.
“People were kept safe from the risk of abuse because staff had a good understanding of people's needs and how to respond to risks.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw friendly relationships and staff who listened to people. Privacy, dignity, choice and independence were promoted.
“Staff used open body language when communicating with people and crouched down to their level if they were sitting down.” from the report
Personalised activities
Activities were based on people’s hobbies, interests and life histories. The home had an activities co-ordinator and daily visits from entertainers.
“A permanent activities co-ordinator had been employed to organise group and individual activities for people throughout the week. External entertainers visited the home daily.” from the report
Improved management checks
The management team had introduced regular audits and action plans covering records, the environment, incidents and complaints. External monthly audits gave additional oversight.
“Each month, the registered manager and deputy manager completed a series of audits in areas such as personnel files, the environment, incidents and accidents and complaints.” from the report
Kitchen checks
minorA recent audit found inconsistent temperature records and areas needing cleaning. The home responded by increasing checks and deep cleaning.
“This had included inconsistent recording of temperatures and areas that required cleaning.” from the report
- 01How are mental capacity assessments now recorded, including the person’s views and the reasons for each decision?
- 02How do you check and record kitchen temperatures and cleaning standards on every shift?
- 03How do you make sure activities continue to reflect each person’s interests, including people who prefer to stay in their rooms?
- 04How are people’s end of life wishes recorded and reviewed with them and their relatives?
This was an unannounced inspection of the whole care home, including the premises and care, and all five CQC questions were assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 August 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 Homelea Residential Care Home
4 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Homelea Residential Care Home →
- August 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Homelea Residential Care Home →
- July 2018Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2018Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- March 2017Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2016
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 11 August 2016.
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.