CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Quarry Mount
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, July 2018
Quarry Mount was rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe care and improvements since the previous inspection.
The CQC made an unannounced inspection visit on 5 April 2018. Two inspectors and an Expert by Experience spoke with people, relatives and staff, observed care, looked around the home and checked care, medicines, staff and management records. There were 26 people living there, and the home could support up to 30.
All five areas were rated Good: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practice, suitable care plans, trained staff, access to health professionals, kind interactions and activities that reflected people's interests.
The home was dealing with many cases of flu among people and staff during the visit. Inspectors said care continued appropriately. Problems found at the January 2017 inspection, including medicines records and Mental Capacity Act records, had been addressed. The overall rating improved from Requires Improvement to Good.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw warm, patient interactions. Staff knew people well and supported their dignity, choices and independence.
“People and their relatives complimented the compassionate nature of staff and told us staff were caring.” from the report
Medicines improved
Medicines records, instructions for as-needed medicines and storage arrangements had improved since the previous inspection.
“MAR charts had been fully completed to show when medication had been given or, if not taken, the reason why.” from the report
Personalised care
Care records included people's health needs, routines, communication, food preferences and life histories. People and relatives were involved in planning care.
“People's care records contained detailed information about their health and social care needs.” from the report
Activities and family contact
The home provided group and individual activities based on people's interests. Relatives and friends were welcomed and people were supported to maintain contact.
“A range of group and individual activities were provided, depending on people's likes and preferences.” from the report
Open management
People, relatives and staff said the manager was approachable. The home used regular audits to monitor and improve the service.
“The registered manager had systems in place to review, monitor and improve the quality of the service delivery.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you keep staffing levels safe when several staff are off sick, as happened during the flu outbreak?
- 02How do you check that medicines records remain complete and that instructions for as-needed medicines are followed?
- 03How will you involve my relative and our family in reviewing their personalised care plan?
- 04What activities would be suitable for my relative's interests, abilities and communication needs?
- 05How would you record and follow my relative's wishes about hospital treatment and end of life care?
This was an unannounced inspection of the overall quality of the home and covered all five key questions; the previous January 2017 rating was replaced by the ratings in this report. This explanation was written from the published report of 20 July 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.
What inspectors found, April 2017
Rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found caring staff but concerns about medicines, staffing and whether care plans were followed.
This was an unannounced inspection over 10 and 11 January 2017. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and health professionals. They observed care and looked at care records, medicines, training, recruitment and quality checks.
The home was caring, and people and relatives spoke positively about the staff. People were supported with their health, had food and drink available, and were usually treated with kindness, privacy and dignity.
However, medicines were not always managed safely. There were not enough staff at some times in the afternoon and evening, and staff did not always respond promptly or follow care plan instructions. Records about consent and decision-making were also not complete.
The overall rating was Requires Improvement. Safe, Effective, Responsive and Well-led were also rated Requires Improvement. Caring was rated Good. The home had met all the standards assessed at its previous inspection in September 2014.
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives described staff as caring and helpful. Inspectors saw staff communicate calmly and support people's privacy, dignity and preferred routines.
“People told us they could follow their preferred routines.” from the report
Health support
People had regular contact with health professionals. Records included medical histories, appointments and warning signs that staff should report.
“People received regular support from health care professionals.” from the report
Positive relationships
People, relatives and staff described the registered manager and provider as approachable. People and relatives were encouraged to share their views and raise concerns.
“People's views and those of relatives were encouraged and used to develop the service.” from the report
Recruitment checks
The home carried out checks on applicants, including identity checks, two interviews, DBS checks and contact with previous employers.
“Safe recruitment procedures were in place, to ensure people were supported by staff with the appropriate experience and character.” from the report
Medicines management
seriousMedicine records were not always signed, instructions for creams and medicines taken when needed were unclear, and the medicine trolley was not securely stored. This was a breach of Regulation 12.
“People's medicines were not always safely managed.” from the report
Staffing at busy times
seriousThere were not enough staff to meet people's needs effectively at some points in the afternoon and evening. People waited for help, including help to use the toilet, and meals were interrupted.
“There were not enough staff available at all times to meet people's needs effectively.” from the report
Care plans not always followed
seriousStaff did not always follow instructions about activities, eating support, supervision and equipment. One person who needed supervision while eating was not supervised at lunchtime.
“Staff were not always responsive to people's needs.” from the report
Quality checks lacked analysis
needs fixingSome audits recorded problems but did not examine trends or ensure that all identified shortfalls were dealt with. For example, a falls audit did not analyse when or how falls happened.
“Some audits required greater detail and an analysis of the information.” from the report
- 01What changes have been made to medicine storage and recording, including medicines taken as needed and topical creams?
- 02How many care staff are on duty in the afternoon, at teatime and in the evening now?
- 03How do you check that each person's care plan is clear and followed, especially for eating, swallowing, hoisting and activities?
- 04How are mental capacity assessments and best-interest decisions recorded, and how do you check a relative has legal authority to make decisions?
- 05What analysis is now carried out after falls, accidents and incidents, and how are lessons put into practice?
This was an unannounced inspection of all five CQC questions, carried out over two days; the previous inspection in September 2014 found all assessed standards were met. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 April 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. The report was longer than we could read in one go; the later sections may not be reflected.
Every inspection of Quarry Mount
2 rated inspections over a year: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- July 2018Goodcurrent ratingup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2017Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 11 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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44 live-in carers within about an hour of Swindon
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 £990 to £1,280 a week. 34 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Linet became her carer and all changed, my daughter started eating, taking her medications and more important her happiness came back.”
“She was very caring, kind and patient to all his needs, she built up a wondetful rapport with him, she was dedicated and was there for him through good times as well as through the tough times”
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.