CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Preston Short Break Services
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People said they felt safe. Inspectors found clear risk assessments, safe recruitment, sufficient staffing, suitable safeguarding training and safe medicines arrangements.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had relevant training and understood people's needs. People received suitable meals and support with healthcare, although some relatives were concerned about cancelled short stays.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were observed being friendly, proactive and respectful. Care plans reflected people's preferences, and staff protected privacy and dignity.
- Responsive?
- Good
- People chose their activities, meals and daily routines. Care plans were personalised and reviewed, and people said concerns were listened to and dealt with promptly.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had a clear management structure and regular audits. People, relatives and staff were encouraged to share their views, although several people had not recently received surveys.
What inspectors found, November 2017
Preston Short Break Services was rated Good; inspectors found safe, caring and personalised support, but some short stays had been cancelled.
The announced inspection took place on 15 August 2017. Inspectors spoke with seven people using the service, 12 relatives, the manager and five staff. They also observed care, checked records for five people, reviewed medicines, staffing, training and recruitment, and looked around the building.
The home supported up to six people at a time for short stays. People and relatives said they felt safe and that staff were kind and helpful. Inspectors found suitable risk assessments, safe medicines systems, enough staff, trained workers, personalised care plans and regular checks on quality.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This meant the service remained Good overall, the same as at the previous comprehensive inspection on 25 November 2014.
People felt safe
People and relatives said they felt safe and were happy with the care. Inspectors found safeguarding procedures, risk assessments and safe staffing arrangements.
“People who spoke with us said they felt safe at Preston Short Break Services and liked the staff who supported them.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans recorded people's routines, preferences and the way they wanted support. People and relatives were involved in planning and reviewing care.
“These were personalised and had been agreed with individuals and their relatives where appropriate.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors saw friendly and positive interactions. Staff respected people's privacy, dignity, interests and individual choices.
“We saw staff were friendly, proactive and interacted frequently with people.” from the report
Regular quality checks
Management carried out frequent checks covering areas such as care plans, medicines, infection control and activities. Issues found were acted on promptly.
“The outcome of audits and checks were documented and any issues found on audits were acted upon promptly.” from the report
Cancelled short stays
needs fixingSome relatives were concerned that short stays had been cancelled when people stayed for longer periods. The report said this reduced the home's capacity for short breaks.
“There have been occasions where people have stayed for an extended period of time which had reduced the capacity of the service for short stays.” from the report
Building condition
minorPeople and staff described the building as getting tired. The manager said redecoration and new carpets, curtains and furniture were planned after the inspection.
“People who used the service and staff told us the building was getting 'tired'.” from the report
Feedback surveys
minorSeveral people said they had not received surveys recently. The manager said another batch was due to be sent out.
“Several people said they had not received surveys recently.” from the report
- 01How often are short stays currently cancelled because someone is staying for an extended period?
- 02What changes were made to the building, carpets, curtains and furniture after the inspection?
- 03How do you now collect feedback from people and relatives if surveys are not sent?
- 04How are care plans checked and updated before each short stay?
- 05How do you make sure staffing levels match the number and needs of people staying?
This inspection covered all five CQC questions and found that the overall Good rating remained the same as at the comprehensive inspection on 25 November 2014. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 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 Preston Short Break Services
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- November 2017Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Preston Short Break Services →
- February 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 2 February 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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85 live-in carers within about an hour of Lancashire
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 £1,260 a week. 78 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She understands the needs of an elderly person in the early stages of dementia and has treated my mother with great kindness and skill.”
“Thanks to Tracy, Dad was always immaculately dressed and clean, his meals were all home cooked and nutritionally well balanced and his home was always kept really clean and tidy.”
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.