CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Minehead
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Risks were assessed, staffing and recruitment checks were suitable, and infection prevention arrangements were in place. However, medicines records for two people had gaps.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not assessed during this inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not assessed during this inspection. The report said staff supported people to express their views and promoted individuality.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not assessed during this inspection. The report described support for new experiences, skills and independence.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Management had clear oversight, regular quality checks and action plans for improvements. People, relatives and staff were asked for their views, and feedback was positive.
What inspectors found, March 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, person-centred care, but medicines records had gaps for two people.
This was an unannounced inspection on 26 January 2023. Two inspectors reviewed care plans, medicines records, accident records, recruitment files and other management records. They spoke with one person, relatives, staff and healthcare professionals. Four other people were away on holiday.
The home was rated Good overall, with Good ratings for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found that people were protected from abuse, risks were assessed, staffing was suitable and infection controls were in place. Staff supported people with their choices, communication, activities and independence.
There were gaps in medicines administration records for two people. Inspectors could not be assured that medicines had always been given at the right time, although the manager said this was a recording error and acted promptly with extra checks, training and reviews.
The previous rating was also Good, published in January 2020. This inspection was part of a random check of services rated Good or Outstanding, and the other three key questions were not assessed.
Safe staffing
Inspectors found enough suitably checked staff, including support for one-to-one activities and visits. Staff were observed responding quickly to people's needs.
“People continued to receive support from adequate numbers of suitably vetted staff, to ensure their suitability for the role.” from the report
Risk management
Risks such as falls, community access, medical needs and behaviours had clear assessments and guidance for staff.
“Potential risks to people were clearly assessed, with up to date risk management plans in place.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were supported to communicate in their preferred way, try new experiences, learn skills and become more independent.
“People had the opportunity to try new experiences, develop new skills and gain independence.” from the report
Positive leadership
Inspectors found a caring and improvement-focused culture. Managers carried out quality checks and completed action plans when improvements were needed.
“Management had clear oversight and governance of the service.” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had suitable arrangements for preventing and managing infections, including safe use of protective equipment.
“We were assured that the provider was responding effectively to risks and signs of infection.” from the report
Medicines records
seriousMedicines administration records for two people had gaps. Inspectors were therefore not assured that medicines had always been given when needed, although the manager took prompt corrective action.
“However, we found gaps in medicines administration records (MAR) for 2 people.” from the report
- 01What checks now confirm that every medicine dose is recorded correctly and on time?
- 02What refresher training have staff had about medicines, and how is their practice checked?
- 03How will my relative receive one-to-one support for activities and visits in the community?
- 04How will staff support my relative to communicate in their preferred way and make their own decisions?
- 05How are individual risk assessments reviewed when a person's needs or behaviour changes?
This was an unannounced inspection focused on Safe and Well-led; Effective, Caring and Responsive were not assessed, and the previous ratings for those questions were not changed by this report. This explanation was written from the published report of 25 March 2023 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, January 2020
Minehead was rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with the building larger than current best-practice guidance suggests.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 17 December 2019. One inspector spoke with three people and five staff, and reviewed care records, medicines records, staff files, training, fire safety and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that people were protected from abuse, medicines were managed safely, staffing levels were suitable and risks were regularly reviewed.
People were treated with kindness and respect. Their care plans described their needs and preferences, staff supported communication in different ways, and people were helped to take part in activities and use the community.
This was the first rating under the new provider, which registered in January 2019. The previous rating was also Good, published in June 2018.
Safe medicines and risk checks
Medicines were administered, recorded and stored safely. Risk plans covered areas such as medicines, finances, road safety, fire safety and activities, and were regularly reviewed.
“People's medicines were administered, recorded and stored safely. Stocks and balances matched what was recorded as being stored.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
People indicated that staff helped them and treated them well. Inspectors observed staff taking time to communicate and showing empathy when people were upset.
“Throughout the inspection we observed staff interacting with people compassionately. Taking their time to communicate with people and demonstrated empathy when people were agitated.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans covered people's health, communication, emotional, behavioural and social needs. Staff were given clear guidance and changes were shared promptly.
“Care plans detailed people's wishes, preferences, cognition, health, social, medical, emotional, behavioural and communication needs and gave staff guidance on how to meet these needs.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were encouraged to make decisions about food, clothing, activities and support. Staff supported people to access communal areas, the local community and activities that mattered to them.
“Throughout the inspection we observed staff encouraging people to make decisions about their care.” from the report
Active management
The manager had oversight of care, medicines, fire safety, risk plans and staff training. Audits were used to identify and address issues.
“Audits undertaken were reviewed by the registered manager to ensure issues identified were acted on swiftly.” from the report
Building larger than current guidance suggests
minorThe home is larger than current best-practice guidance for residential services for people with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. Inspectors said this had not negatively affected the people living there, but it is worth discussing how the design supports your relative.
“The care home is larger than current best practice guidance suggests for residential services for people with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder.” from the report
- 01How will you make sure the home's size and three-floor layout work well for my relative's needs?
- 02How will staff communicate with my relative, including their preferred language, Makaton, gestures or symbols?
- 03How do you make sure there are enough staff for one-to-one support, including when someone is off sick?
- 04How will my relative be involved in reviewing their care plan and making choices about daily activities and support?
- 05How are medicines errors investigated, and how do you check that lessons have been followed?
This was an unannounced planned inspection that assessed all five CQC questions; it was the first rating under the new provider, while the previous rating was Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 January 2020 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 Minehead
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2020GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2019
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 11 January 2019.
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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Lambeth
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 £1,250 a week. 76 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She cared for my mum with Alzheimer's with endless patience and kindness, always arriving with a smile and a positive attitude”
“She is just one of those people that looks around, sees what needs to be done and does it.”
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.