CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Lauriston
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks were managed safely, there were enough staff, medicines were handled safely and safeguarding arrangements were understood.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not assessed during this focused inspection. Its previous rating was carried forward when calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not assessed during this focused inspection. Its previous rating was carried forward when calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not assessed during this focused inspection. Its previous rating was carried forward when calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Requires improvement
- Management and quality systems had improved, but some internal checks had missed inaccurate fluid records and inconsistent records of oral care.
What inspectors found, November 2022
Rated Good overall, but inspectors found record-keeping gaps and rated the home Requires Improvement for being well-led.
Inspectors visited unannounced on 26 and 27 October 2022. They spoke with people living in the home, relatives and staff. They reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff files and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practices, suitable recruitment checks and good arrangements for managing risks, safeguarding and infection control. The home was clean and well maintained.
The home was rated Requires Improvement for Well-led. Management systems had improved and the home was no longer in breach of regulations, but some checks had not identified gaps in fluid records and daily oral care records. Care plans on the nursing unit also needed further development.
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led. The overall rating improved from Requires Improvement to Good, but the ratings for the other areas were carried forward from the previous inspection rather than assessed during this visit.
Safe staffing
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs. Staffing levels were reviewed daily and people said help was available when needed.
“There were enough staff to support people safely.” from the report
Medicines
Medicines were stored, given and disposed of safely. Staff giving medicines had the required training and competence.
“Medicines were stored, administered and disposed of safely.” from the report
Managing risks
Care plans, risk assessments and checks of the environment helped protect people from avoidable harm. Inspectors also found good wound care records.
“Risks to people were managed safely.” from the report
Kind and approachable leadership
People, relatives and staff described the management team positively. Inspectors found that feedback was encouraged and acted on.
“The management team was approachable and visible to people, staff and visitors.” from the report
Learning from incidents
Accidents and incidents were recorded and reviewed. Inspectors found examples of changes being made after something went wrong.
“There was evidence that learning took place when errors occurred.” from the report
Fluid records
needs fixingSome fluid intake records were incomplete or inaccurate. This meant staff might not have been able to monitor people's health and wellbeing effectively.
“Fluid charts were inconsistently recorded which meant that staff may not be able to monitor their health and well-being effectively.” from the report
Oral care records
needs fixingRecords showed when oral care was declined but did not always show whether it was offered again later. The manager said more training and monitoring would be provided.
“We found inconsistencies in daily records.” from the report
Nursing unit care plans
needs fixingCare plans on the nursing unit did not yet give a fully developed, holistic picture of people's needs. The manager had identified this as an area for improvement.
“The care plans on the nursing unit need to be further developed to ensure a holistic approach.” from the report
- 01How do you now check that fluid charts are complete and accurate for people who need hydration support?
- 02How will you make sure oral care is offered again when someone initially declines it, and that this is recorded?
- 03What changes are being made to develop the care plans on the nursing unit?
- 04How often are these record-keeping improvements reviewed, and who checks that they are working?
- 05What were the ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive at the previous inspection?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 November 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, February 2022
Lauriston was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection-control practice during COVID-19 and staffing pressures.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection of infection prevention and control. It took place on 11 January 2022 and was completed on 13 January 2022.
Inspectors found the home was clean and well maintained. Staff used protective equipment correctly, testing was taking place, and the home followed guidance on visitors, social distancing and infection outbreaks.
The home had stopped accepting new admissions because of staffing pressures. This was intended to reduce risk while staffing levels were stabilised. The inspection did not give a quality rating.
Clean environment
The home was clean and well maintained, with regular cleaning and checks of cleaning records.
“The home was clean and well maintained. There was regular cleaning throughout the day, and this included high-touch areas.” from the report
PPE and staff training
Staff had suitable protective equipment and training on using it safely. Inspectors saw staff following infection-control practices.
“Staff had received specific COVID-19 training from the provider, and this included guidance for staff about how to put on and take off PPE safely.” from the report
Testing and outbreak controls
People and staff were tested regularly. The home followed measures intended to prevent and manage infection outbreaks.
“Regular testing for people and staff was taking place. All staff have a weekly PCR and daily lateral flow device test (LFD).” from the report
Maintaining family contact
When visiting restrictions were in place, staff helped people keep in touch with their families by phone and video calls.
“Staff supported people to remain in contact with their families by phone calls and video calls whilst restrictions were in place.” from the report
Staffing pressure
minorThe home had stopped accepting new admissions because of workforce pressure. Ask whether staffing is now stable and how this affected the people already living there.
“The provider had closed the service to new admissions until the staffing situation was stable.” from the report
- 01Have staffing levels stabilised, and has the home restarted accepting new admissions?
- 02What are the current rules for visiting, including testing, protective equipment and visits at the end of life?
- 03How often are people and staff tested now, and what happens if there is a suspected outbreak?
- 04How will the home help my relative stay in contact with family if visiting restrictions return?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control only; it was inspected but not rated and did not provide ratings for the other areas of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 February 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.
Every inspection of Lauriston
6 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has improved, from Inadequate to Good.
- November 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- June 2019Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- November 2016Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2015Requires improvementup from InadequateSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2015InadequateSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 10 November 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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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.
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