CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Place Farm House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Requires improvement
- Night staffing was not always sufficient, with one night worker instead of two once or twice a week. Mealtime risks, including choking risks, were not always managed according to guidance.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused inspection. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused inspection. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused inspection. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found strong and open leadership, systems for checking quality, and a positive culture focused on personalised care.
What inspectors found, July 2023
Place Farm House: Rated Good overall, but inspectors found that night staffing and mealtime risks needed improvement.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 29 June 2023. One inspector spoke with 8 people, 5 relatives and 5 staff. They also checked care records, medicines records, staff files and the home’s management records.
The home was rated Good overall and Good for being well-led. Inspectors found kind, personalised care, safe medicines, good infection control and strong leadership. People and relatives generally said people felt safe and well cared for.
The Safe rating was Requires Improvement. There were not always two staff working at night, and risks at mealtimes were not managed well for some people with swallowing or choking risks. Building work was also noisy and disruptive for some people. The provider said it would put two staff on duty at night immediately, and updated care plans and recording processes after the inspection.
Kind and personal care
People and relatives spoke highly of the care. Inspectors observed respectful, compassionate support that took account of people’s wishes.
“The staff have always been excellent; they are very friendly, caring and devoted and so hardworking” from the report
Medicines
Medicines were stored and given safely. Records were completed properly, and staff understood relevant medicine risks.
“Medicines were stored and administered safely. This included medicines that required additional control measures to ensure they were managed safely.” from the report
Leadership and openness
The provider and manager were open about the problems inspectors raised and acted straight away. Quality checks and feedback systems were in place.
“There was strong, clear leadership of the service.” from the report
Falls prevention
The home had care plans and monitoring to reduce falls. Inspectors found these had helped reduce the number of falls.
“There was a robust process for monitoring and managing falls.” from the report
Night staffing
seriousThe rota showed that there was one night worker instead of two once or twice a week. This did not match the home’s own safety arrangements.
“There were not always adequate staffing levels at night to keep people safe and meet their needs.” from the report
Choking risks at mealtimes
seriousSome people with swallowing difficulties or previous serious choking episodes ate alone in their bedrooms. Guidance to reduce choking risks was not always followed, and care plans did not clearly record people’s decisions.
“Risks at meal times were not well managed.” from the report
Disruption from building work
needs fixingSome people and visitors found the building work noisy and disruptive. They felt their comfort had not been properly considered.
“Some people and visitors described the building work as noisy and disruptive and did not feel the provider had considered the comfort of people during this time.” from the report
- 01How do you now make sure there are two staff on duty every night?
- 02How are choking risks managed for people who eat in their bedrooms or choose not to follow professional advice?
- 03How are decisions about refusing mealtime advice recorded and reviewed?
- 04How is the building work affecting residents now, and what steps are being taken to reduce noise and disruption?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings were not inspected and the previous ratings were used to calculate the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 July 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, November 2017
Place Farm House was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and responsive care, with earlier medicines concerns improved.
Inspectors carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 19 September 2017. They spoke with people living there, visitors and staff, observed care, and checked care records, staff files, medicines records and quality checks.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found medicines were now managed safely, people had enough trained staff, and care was based on people's needs and preferences.
People described staff as kind, helpful and respectful. Inspectors saw people being supported to make choices, maintain their independence, eat and drink well, access healthcare and take part in activities. The home had a relaxed atmosphere and systems to monitor quality.
A previous focused inspection in November 2016 found a breach linked to medicines. This inspection found the required improvements had been made and the legal requirements were being met.
Medicines now managed safely
The home had introduced electronic medicines records, trained all care staff and carried out regular checks. Inspectors found the records they reviewed were accurate.
“At this inspection, we saw that improvements had been made.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and visitors spoke highly of the staff. Inspectors observed a relaxed, homely service where people's privacy, choices and independence were respected.
“The service had a relaxed and homely feel.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's preferences, life history and support needs. Staff used this information to provide care in the way people wanted.
“The care plans were detailed and gave descriptions of people's needs and the support staff should give to meet these.” from the report
Activities and choice
People could take part in activities such as singing, films, arts and crafts, exercise and reminiscence sessions. The home also supported individual hobbies and outings.
“The provision of meaningful and appropriate activities was good and staff undertook activities with people.” from the report
Open management
Staff and people described the management as approachable. Quality audits and feedback were used to monitor the service and plan improvements.
“Quality assurance audits were embedded to ensure a good level of quality was maintained.” from the report
Previous medicines breach
seriousThe previous inspection found gaps in medicines records and that not all staff had the required medicines training. This inspection found those issues had been improved and Regulation 12 was now being met.
“At the last inspection we found concerns in the way the service managed medication, which had placed people at risk.” from the report
- 01How do you check the electronic medicines records each day, and what happens if a dose or record is missed?
- 02How will you assess and review my relative's risks, including their ability to move around and evacuate in an emergency?
- 03How will my relative and our family be involved in creating and reviewing the care plan?
- 04What activities could my relative take part in, based on their interests and abilities?
- 05How can relatives access the online care information, and who should we contact if we have a concern?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five areas; it followed a focused inspection in November 2016 that identified medicines concerns. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 November 2017 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 Place Farm House
3 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- July 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvement
- September 2016
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 19 September 2016.
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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