CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at New Witheven
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People said they felt safe. Inspectors found suitable safeguarding arrangements, risk assessments, staffing levels, medicine records and checks on the premises.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had induction, training, supervision and appraisals. People were supported with food, healthcare, daily choices and activities suited to their needs.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness and respect. They understood people's communication needs and supported people to express views and take part in everyday life.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans covered people's needs and preferences, and people were involved in reviews. People had access to activities, accessible information and a complaints process.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The management team was visible and approachable, with clear responsibilities. Regular audits, surveys, meetings and newsletters were used to monitor and develop the service.
What inspectors found, March 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, caring and well-managed support, with a review needed of whether constant supervision required legal authorisation.
This was an announced comprehensive inspection on 17 February 2018. The inspector reviewed earlier reports and information, looked around the home, observed staff and residents, and checked care records, staff files, training records and other records.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that people felt safe, staff knew them well, and people were supported to make choices and take part in activities.
Staffing, medicines, risk assessments, safeguarding arrangements and the premises were checked and found satisfactory. The home had systems for training staff, handling complaints and checking the quality of care.
The rating stayed the same as at the previous inspection in January 2016. Inspectors said there was no evidence of serious risks or concerns.
Kind and respectful staff
Staff knew people well and adapted communication to individual needs. Inspectors saw patience, humour and respectful interactions.
“People were treated kindly and with respect at all times.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
Staffing numbers were consistently met and could adjust when respite or day services changed. Medicine stocks matched the records and there were no gaps in the checked administration records.
“There were enough staff to support people safely at all times.” from the report
Choice and independence
People could make everyday choices, including when to get up and eat. They were supported to take part in cooking, gardening, household tasks and community activities.
“People were supported to make day to day decisions and choices.” from the report
Good daily records
Daily records captured activities, mood and emotional wellbeing. Staff used handovers to share changes in people's needs.
“The daily logs were detailed and informative and gave a comprehensive overview of the day.” from the report
Active management checks
The management team had clear roles and used audits, surveys and staff meetings to monitor the service.
“There were effective quality assurance systems in place to monitor the standards of the care provided.” from the report
Care plans not always fully up to date
minorInspectors said care plans were relevant but mainly up to date. Families should ask how updates are checked after a person's needs change.
“The plans were relevant and mainly up to date.” from the report
Supervision needed checking
needs fixingOne care plan said a person needed constant supervision at certain times, although the home said nobody was subject to restrictive practices. The manager said an audit would check whether any legal authorisation applications were needed.
“The registered manager told us they would carry out an audit to identify if any DoLS applications should be made.” from the report
- 01What was the outcome of the audit about constant supervision and whether any legal authorisation was needed?
- 02How do you make sure care plans are updated promptly when someone's needs change?
- 03How will you support my relative to make everyday choices and take part in activities that interest them?
- 04How are medicines checked, and how would you support my relative to become as independent as possible with them?
- 05How are relatives told about changes, concerns or developments in the home?
This was an announced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, and the ratings in all five areas remained Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 March 2018 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 New Witheven
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 8 March 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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10 live-in carers within about two hours of Cornwall
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 £1,200 a week. 8 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“He had been a little anxious before she arrived, but has since stated that he would be very happy for her to care for him again”
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.