CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Keer Sands Residential Home
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found robust risk management, suitable staffing, safe recruitment and good infection control. They found two minor medicines gaps and missing window restrictors, which were addressed during or shortly after the inspection.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not reviewed during this focused inspection. The report says the previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Staff were exceptionally caring, knew people well and supported their dignity, independence, communication and relationships. Activities and support were adapted to people's interests and needs.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not reviewed during this focused inspection. The report says the previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Inspectors found strong, accessible leadership, a person-centred culture, effective quality checks and very good communication with families and other professionals.
What inspectors found, March 2024
Rated Outstanding overall; inspectors found exceptionally caring, safe and well-led support, with two minor medicines gaps fixed during the inspection.
This was an unannounced, focused inspection on 10 October 2023. One inspector and an Expert by Experience spent one day at the home. They spoke with people, relatives and staff, observed care and checked care plans, staff files and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe, and Outstanding for Caring and Well-led. Inspectors found people felt safe, medicines were generally managed well, staffing was appropriate and infection control was good. Two minor medicines issues and missing window restrictors were dealt with during or shortly after the inspection.
The overall rating changed from Good to Outstanding. However, this was not a full inspection of all five areas. Effective and Responsive were not reviewed during this visit, so their previous ratings were used when calculating the overall rating.
Exceptional kindness
Staff went beyond basic care to support people's relationships, interests, dignity and comfort. They adapted support to individual wishes and needs.
“The whole staff team in the service ensured people were well-treated, supported, and respected.” from the report
Personalised support
Staff noticed changes in people's communication, anxiety and interests, then acted quickly to help people stay involved and independent.
“People received person-centred care. Care documentation included clear and detailed information about people's needs, likes, dislikes, and histories, allowing staff to recognise them as individuals.” from the report
Strong leadership
The managers were accessible and promoted an open, empowering culture. Families were kept informed through an electronic telephone app group.
“The registered managers ran the home exceptionally well. The registered managers were very experienced and committed to their roles.” from the report
Well-trained staff
Staff training was current and closely monitored. Inspectors recorded a 99.1% training completion rate.
“Exceptionally, the completion rate for training was at 99.1%.” from the report
Safe staffing
Inspectors found staffing levels appeared appropriate, with people and relatives saying enough staff were available. Recruitment and induction systems were also in place.
“Staffing levels appeared appropriate. People and family members told us there were plenty of staff available.” from the report
Medicines records
minorProtocols were missing for medicines taken occasionally, and one medicine did not have an opening date. The home corrected both issues during the inspection.
“We found protocols missing for medicines people take occasionally. We also found medicine without an open date” from the report
Window restrictors
minorInspectors found window restrictors missing. The manager ordered them during the inspection and they were installed the following week.
“Health and safety checks were performed, and certificates held for relevant checks, although we noted window restrictors missing.” from the report
- 01How are the medicines protocols and opening dates checked now?
- 02How do you make sure window restrictors remain in place and working?
- 03What were the previous ratings for Effective and Responsive, which were not assessed in this inspection?
- 04How do you record and review lessons learned after accidents or incidents?
- 05How will you keep families updated about their relative's care and day-to-day life?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Caring and Well-led only; Effective and Responsive were not inspected and their previous ratings were used to calculate the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 March 2024 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, November 2017
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe and responsive care, with one minor record-keeping issue about fridge temperatures.
This was an unannounced, comprehensive inspection on 26 October 2017. The inspector spoke with five people living at the home, a relative, two staff members and the registered manager or provider. They also observed care, checked records, medicines, staff recruitment and training, meals, the building and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found people were treated kindly and respectfully. They found enough staff, suitable risk assessments, safe medicines systems, up-to-date care records and access to healthcare.
People had choices about meals and activities. Staff supported people's individual care, religious and dietary needs. The home had a complaints process and systems for checking its quality.
The home had also been rated Good at the previous inspection in July 2015. Inspectors found it remained Good at this inspection.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw staff supporting people gently and respectfully. People said staff understood how to help them.
“They are so kind as you can see I need help and they do it so gently and confidently. They are lovely people.” from the report
Safe medicines practice
Inspectors found medicines were ordered, stored, given and recorded correctly. Controlled drug records and totals were also correct for the records checked.
“This showed the management team had systems to protect people from the unsafe storage and administration of medicines.” from the report
Enough staff
Inspectors found staffing levels met people's needs. Staff responded quickly when people used their call bells.
“During our inspection, we observed staff were patient and responded to call bells quickly.” from the report
Individual support and choice
Care plans included people's preferences, dietary needs, activities and religious choices. People could choose meals and activities.
“Care plans we looked at were reflective of people's needs and their support preferences.” from the report
Good communication about health
Healthcare visits and outcomes were recorded. A relative said the home kept them informed about changes in their relative's health.
“A relative visiting the home told us they were very good at keeping them informed if anything was wrong with their relative's health.” from the report
Missing fridge temperature records
minorA kitchen audit found that some daily fridge temperatures had not been recorded. The audit identified the issue and recorded action to prevent it being missed again.
“A recent kitchen audit identified some missing daily fridge temperatures.” from the report
- 01How are daily fridge temperatures now recorded and checked after the missing records found in the kitchen audit?
- 02How will you make sure staffing levels remain sufficient if several people need help at the same time?
- 03How would you support my relative's particular dietary, healthcare or swallowing needs?
- 04How are activities chosen, and how would you adapt them to my relative's interests and abilities?
- 05How will you keep me informed about changes in my relative's health or care plan?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions and the overall quality of the service. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 November 2017 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 Keer Sands Residential Home
3 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- March 2024Outstandingcurrent ratingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Outstanding
- November 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodCaring: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 23 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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
85 live-in carers within about an hour of Lancashire
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 £1,260 a week. 78 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She understands the needs of an elderly person in the early stages of dementia and has treated my mother with great kindness and skill.”
“Thanks to Tracy, Dad was always immaculately dressed and clean, his meals were all home cooked and nutritionally well balanced and his home was always kept really clean and tidy.”
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.