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CQC report explained · a nursing home

What the CQC found at Patcham Nursing Home

Goodpublished 25 April 2025, 17 months ago

Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.

The latest report, explained

What inspectors found, December 2019

Rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found kind, personalised care, but staffing, cleanliness and staff supervision needed improvement.

This was an unannounced inspection on 03 October 2019. Inspectors spoke with people, relatives, staff and a visiting healthcare professional. They reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff files and management records.

The home was rated Good for caring, responsive care and leadership. People were treated kindly, involved in decisions and supported to keep their independence. Care was personalised, activities and complaints were managed, and the new management team had improved teamwork and morale.

The home was rated Requires Improvement for safe and effective care. Inspectors found concerns about staffing at busy times, cleanliness in some areas, and how often staff received supervision and feedback. This overall rating means some aspects of care were not consistently good and there was limited assurance about safety.

What inspectors praised
  • Kind and respectful care

    People were treated kindly and staff understood the importance of dignity, privacy and independence.

    “People were treated with dignity and staff ensured people's privacy during care.” from the report
  • Personalised support

    Care plans included people's medical needs, histories, likes and dislikes. Staff used this information to support people's choices.

    “People had personalised care with their choices met by staff.” from the report
  • Improved leadership

    The new management team had improved teamwork, morale and the way people and relatives were involved in changes.

    “At this inspection we found this had improved.” from the report
  • Safe medicines and risk management

    Nurses administered and recorded medicines safely. Staff also assessed risks such as falls, poor hydration, infections and pressure ulcers.

    “We saw nursing staff administering and recording the administration of medicines safely.” from the report
What inspectors were concerned about
  • Busy mornings

    needs fixing

    People and staff said mornings could be too busy, especially when people needed help with personal care. Inspectors did not see evidence that anyone had been harmed, but staffing remained an area for improvement.

    “We did not see any evidence that people came to harm, but staffing levels continue to be an area that needs improvement.” from the report
  • Cleaning and smells

    minor

    Some areas did not smell clean and fresh. The manager was working on this, including replacing some carpets and planning regular deep cleaning.

    “Some areas of the home did not smell clean and fresh.” from the report
  • Staff supervision

    needs fixing

    Some staff said they had received very little supervision or appraisal. The manager was introducing staff development plans, but competency checks and feedback still needed improvement.

    “Staff competency checks via supervision, and chances to receive feedback were areas that needed improvement” from the report
Questions to ask them, based on this report
  1. 01How many staff are scheduled during the morning personal care period, and how do you check this is enough for residents' needs?
  2. 02What action has been taken about areas that did not smell clean and fresh, and has the planned regular deep clean started?
  3. 03How often does each staff member receive supervision and an appraisal?
  4. 04Which subjects are taught face to face rather than online, and how are new staff checked as competent?
  5. 05What changes have been made since the inspection to improve the areas rated Requires Improvement?

This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the care provided and the home's premises; the previous overall rating was also reviewed. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 December 2019 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.

An earlier report, explained

What inspectors found, October 2018

Patcham Nursing Home was rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found kind, responsive care, but staffing and workplace culture needed improvement.

Inspectors visited the home without warning on 31 July 2018. They spoke with people, relatives and staff, observed care and checked care records, staff files, training records and management audits.

The home was rated Good for Effective, Caring and Responsive. People were supported by trained staff, treated with kindness and dignity, and offered choices, activities and care that reflected their preferences. Medicines, infection control and risk management had improved.

The home was rated Requires Improvement for Safe and Well-led. Staffing levels were below the assessed need on seven occasions in the previous two weeks. Staff feedback also showed low morale, concerns about discrimination and a negative workplace culture.

The overall rating was Requires Improvement. The provider breached Regulation 17 on good governance because it had not acted on staff feedback and had not ensured that the home's culture was open, inclusive and empowering.

What inspectors praised
  • Medicines management

    Inspectors found that medicines were stored, administered, audited and reviewed appropriately. Records were accurate and nurses gave medicines sensitively.

    “Medicines were managed safely and in accordance with current regulations and guidance.” from the report
  • Kind and respectful care

    People said they were well cared for. Inspectors saw friendly, respectful interactions and support for people's privacy, dignity, choices and independence.

    “People were supported by kind and caring staff.” from the report
  • Personalised care

    Care plans included people's likes, dislikes, routines, communication needs and support preferences. Staff knew people well and used this information in care.

    “Care plans accurately recorded people's likes, dislikes and preferences.” from the report
  • Activities and relationships

    People could take part in activities including reminiscence sessions, manicures, one-to-one time and outings. Staff also supported people to stay in touch with family and friends.

    “We saw a varied range of activities on offer, which included, manicures and themed events, such as reminiscence sessions and visits from external entertainers.” from the report
  • Clean environment

    The home and its equipment were clean and well maintained. Inspectors found robust infection control arrangements and appropriate use of protective equipment.

    “The service was clean and procedures in relation to infection control were robust.” from the report
What inspectors were concerned about
  • Staffing levels

    serious

    The home did not always have the assessed number of care staff on shift. People and staff said this could make care rushed and affect staff wellbeing.

    “On seven occasions the service did not have the assessed number of care staff working on shift.” from the report
  • Workplace culture

    serious

    Staff feedback was mixed, with reports of low morale, poor support, bullying and problems between staff and management. Inspectors found that the provider's values were not consistently reflected in daily care.

    “The day to day culture in the service, including the attitudes, values and behaviour of staff did not promote a positive ethos that was open, inclusive and empowering.” from the report
  • Equality and human rights knowledge

    needs fixing

    Some staff did not show a good understanding of equality, diversity and human rights. The inspectors recommended training from a reputable source.

    “Some staff did not have a good understanding of equality, diversity and human rights.” from the report
Questions to ask them, based on this report
  1. 01How do you now make sure every shift has the assessed number of care staff, including at night and during busy meal times?
  2. 02What action have you taken about the staff reports of low morale, bullying, discrimination and concerns not being acted on?
  3. 03What equality, diversity and human rights training have staff completed since this inspection?
  4. 04How do you check that staff feedback is acted on and that the workplace culture is open and inclusive?
  5. 05What changes were made after the provider's action plan for the Regulation 17 breach?

This was an unannounced inspection of the whole service, covering all five key questions, and it also checked progress since the previous inspection on 27 June 2017. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 October 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.

The story over the years

Every inspection of Patcham Nursing Home

4 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has slipped, from Good to Requires improvement.

  1. December 2019Requires improvementcurrent ratingstayed Requires improvement
    Safe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good

    Read what inspectors found at Patcham Nursing Home →

  2. October 2018Requires improvementstayed Requires improvement
    Safe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement

    Read what inspectors found at Patcham Nursing Home →

  3. July 2017Requires improvementdown from Good
    Safe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  4. June 2015Good
    Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  5. October 2013

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  6. April 2013

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  7. January 2012

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  8. January 2011

    Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 4 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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