CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Pippin House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Staff knew people well and understood how to protect them from abuse and avoidable harm. Risk assessments, medicines systems, infection control and recruitment checks were in place.
- Effective?
- Good
- Care plans were personalised and regularly reviewed. Staff had relevant training, supported balanced diets and worked with health professionals, although improvements to some bathrooms were still awaiting agreement and work.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff provided kind and compassionate care and respected people's privacy, dignity, choices and communication needs. People were supported to build confidence, learn skills and take part in community life.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Support was tailored to people's goals, communication methods, identities and interests. People were supported to take part in activities, maintain relationships and raise concerns.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The manager was described as visible and approachable, and staff felt supported. Quality checks, family involvement and regular reviews were used to improve the service.
What inspectors found, November 2022
Rated Good in all five areas; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with some bathroom improvements still waiting to be agreed.
The inspection took place on 8 and 10 November 2022. One inspector spoke with four people, six staff members and five relatives. They also reviewed care records, medicine records, staff files and management information.
The home supported seven younger adults with learning disabilities and/or mental health needs who also had hearing impairments. Inspectors found that staff knew people well, supported their communication needs and helped them make choices and develop independence.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This means the inspectors found consistently good care and management at the time of this inspection. It was the first inspection since the home registered under the current provider.
People felt safe
Staff understood people's needs and could recognise when someone was worried or unhappy. The home used risk assessments and worked with other agencies to protect people.
“People were kept safe from avoidable harm because staff knew them well and understood how to protect them from abuse.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors found warm and supportive relationships. Staff used communication methods people understood and respected their privacy, dignity and choices.
“People received kind and compassionate care from staff who used positive, respectful language which people understood and responded well to.” from the report
Support for independence
People were encouraged to try new experiences, develop skills, make choices and take part in work, leisure and community activities.
“People had the opportunity to try new experiences, develop new skills and gain independence.” from the report
Strong staff support and leadership
Staff received relevant training, supervision and development. Inspectors found that the manager and provider had effective systems for checking quality and supporting improvement.
“Staff felt respected, supported and valued by the registered manager which supported a positive and improvement-driven culture.” from the report
Bathroom improvements pending
minorThe home had reported maintenance and improvement needs to the provider and was waiting for key work to be agreed and completed. This included improvements to people's individual bathrooms.
“The service had reported appropriately maintenance and improvements needed to the premises with the provider and were waiting for key areas of work to be agreed and undertaken.” from the report
Recruitment was continuing
minorThe number and skills of staff matched people's needs at the inspection, and more staff had recently been recruited. However, the home continued to recruit staff.
“The service continued to actively recruit for staff on an ongoing basis via various advertising sources.” from the report
- 01What is the timescale for agreeing and completing the improvements to individual bathrooms?
- 02How many staff are currently working at the home, and are there enough staff for the one-to-one activities and visits each person wants?
- 03How will you communicate with my relative using their preferred methods, including visual tools, signing, gestures or symbols?
- 04How are people's care plans and risk assessments reviewed when their needs, wishes or behaviour change?
- 05How will my relative be involved in planning their care, activities, relationships and longer-term goals?
This was the first comprehensive inspection of the newly registered service and covered all five CQC questions, including the premises and care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 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.
Every inspection of Pippin House
3 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- November 2022Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2021
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 30 June 2021.
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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
17 live-in carers within about an hour of Devon
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 £1,020 to £1,270 a week. 15 can care for a couple. 13 years' experience on average.
“She is such a warm and gentle person while being professional and competent at the same time.”
“She looked after my mum, who can be incredibly challenging, so well and so gently, and we always felt confident that my mum was getting the best care available.”
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.