CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Newhaven
Rated Inadequate: inspectors found the home performing badly and the CQC has taken enforcement action.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control, with more detail needed in the COVID-19 policy.
This was a targeted inspection on 18 January 2022. Inspectors looked at infection prevention, visiting arrangements and staffing pressures linked to COVID-19. The visit was announced 24 hours in advance.
Inspectors found regular COVID-19 testing, temperature checks and screening for people living in the home, staff, essential carers and visitors. Staff used personal protective equipment properly, cleaning schedules were in place and people were supported to access healthcare.
The home was meeting the vaccination requirement for non-exempt staff and visiting professionals. However, the infection control policy did not explain in enough detail how to manage COVID-19. The provider said it would update the policy.
The overall service was inspected but not rated. The Safe question was also inspected but not rated because inspectors only looked at staffing and infection control, rather than the whole question.
Testing and screening
There was regular COVID-19 testing for people living in the home, staff, essential carers and visitors. Screening included temperature checks and negative lateral flow tests.
“There was a programme of regular COVID-19 testing for both people living in the home, staff, essential carers and visitors to the home.” from the report
PPE and cleaning
Inspectors found that staff used PPE safely and that there was enough available. Daily cleaning schedules were also being followed.
“Staff used personal protective equipment (PPE) and followed good guidance and practices.” from the report
Access to healthcare
Staff supported people to access healthcare services.
“Staff supported people to access healthcare services.” from the report
Visiting arrangements
Inspectors were assured that visits were being facilitated in line with current guidance.
“We were assured the provider was facilitating visits for people in accordance with the current guidance.” from the report
COVID-19 policy lacked detail
needs fixingThe infection control policy did not contain enough detail about how COVID-19 should be managed. The provider said it would update the policy.
“The infection control policy lacked detail about how to manage COVID-19.” from the report
- 01Has the infection prevention and control policy been updated to explain how COVID-19 is managed?
- 02How are staffing pressures caused by COVID-19 managed now, and have they affected people's care?
- 03What testing and screening arrangements are currently used for people living in the home, staff and visitors?
- 04How are visits currently arranged, and what happens if infection levels change?
- 05How does the home support people to access healthcare services?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it did not assess all five key questions, and the Safe rating was not changed. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 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.
What inspectors found, January 2020
Newhaven was rated Good overall; inspectors found kind, person-centred care, but the home still needed to improve its management of records and quality checks.
Inspectors made an unannounced visit on 16 December 2019. They spoke with people living in the home, staff and health professionals. They observed care and reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff files and management records.
People appeared safe, relaxed and well cared for. Inspectors found warm relationships, good support with health needs, suitable staffing and respectful communication, including with people who did not communicate verbally. Care was personalised and people were supported to make choices and develop independence.
The main weaknesses were in how records and checks were managed. Some medicines information was not kept where staff needed it, and checks of the building's risks had not initially been completed properly. The provider corrected some issues after the inspection and was no longer in breach of regulations.
The overall rating was Good. Safe, Effective, Caring and Responsive were rated Good. Well-led was rated Requires Improvement, meaning the care was generally good but the home's management systems were not consistently strong.
Kind relationships
Inspectors saw staff treating people warmly and respectfully. People appeared relaxed and happy around staff.
“We observed warm and caring interactions between staff and people living in the home.” from the report
Communication
Staff understood people's individual ways of communicating, including non-verbal communication, and responded appropriately.
“We observed how staff were able to recognise people's request through non-verbal communication.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans matched people's needs and risks. People were supported to choose how they spent their time and to become more independent.
“This meant that staff now had the correct guidance on how to support an individual appropriately.” from the report
Healthcare support
The home worked with health and social care professionals and included their advice in people's care plans.
“The service worked with other health and social care professionals to ensure people's healthcare needs were met.” from the report
Improvement since the previous inspection
The provider acted on the previous inspection findings. The home was no longer in breach of regulations, and Responsive improved to Good.
“At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.” from the report
Records were not always easy to find
needs fixingSome documents requested by inspectors were not readily available and were eventually found. The provider was asked to improve how information was stored and recorded.
“We identified through the inspection that the storing and recording of information was not at times effective” from the report
Medicine records needed improvement
needs fixingProtocols for medicines given when needed were not kept with the medicine administration records. The official controlled drugs register was also not being used, although inspectors found no risk to people.
“There were no protocols in place for medicines given 'as and when needed' in people's medication administration files” from the report
Environmental safety checks
needs fixingLegionella testing and the fire risk assessment had not initially been completed properly. The provider corrected these issues after the inspection, but inspectors recommended more consistent checks.
“We recommend the service review their processes regarding environmental risk management to ensure consistency of checks.” from the report
Management knowledge and oversight
needs fixingManagers understood that they needed to improve their knowledge of current best practice for supporting people with learning disabilities. Well-led therefore remained Requires Improvement.
“However, they were also fully aware that additional improvements were needed in regards to their knowledge of current best practice” from the report
- 01How are 'as and when needed' medicines recorded now, and where can staff find the protocols?
- 02How do you make sure the controlled drugs register and all medicines records are complete?
- 03What changes have you made so care plans, best-interest records and other important documents are easy to find?
- 04How often are fire safety and Legionella checks completed, and who reviews the results?
- 05What training or support have managers had to keep their knowledge of current best practice up to date?
This was a planned but unannounced inspection of the care home, covering all five CQC questions and both the premises and the care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 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 Newhaven
4 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2020Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- December 2018Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2017Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- January 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 31 January 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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