CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Quinnell House
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
What inspectors found, February 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection control during the COVID-19 outbreak.
This was a planned, announced inspection on 5 February 2021. It was a targeted inspection looking only at infection prevention and control because of coronavirus outbreaks in care homes.
Inspectors found the home was clean and well maintained. They were assured that staff used protective equipment correctly, testing was taking place, and the home had arrangements for isolating people and reducing the spread of infection.
The home was closed to most visitors at the time, apart from some end-of-life visits. Staff helped people stay in contact with families by phone and video calls. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Clean surroundings
The home was clean and well maintained, with regular cleaning that included areas people touched often.
“The home was very clean and well maintained.” from the report
Protective equipment
Staff had enough protective equipment and inspectors saw them using it correctly.
“Staff were provided with adequate supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) and staff were seen to be wearing this appropriately.” from the report
Testing and outbreak controls
The home had regular testing, daily temperature checks and arrangements to isolate people who tested positive or were unwell.
“There were systems in place to ensure that people who had tested positive for Covid-19 and were unwell and self-isolating were cared for in their bedrooms to minimise the risk of spreading the virus.” from the report
Keeping families connected
While most visits were stopped, staff helped people keep in touch with relatives through phone and video calls.
“Staff supported people to remain in contact with their families through phone and video calls at this time.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What are the current visiting arrangements, including visits for people who are not receiving end-of-life care?
- 02How are new residents admitted and supported during the 14-day isolation period?
- 03How often are residents and staff tested now, and what happens if someone tests positive?
- 04How is district nurse support arranged when a resident needs nursing care?
- 05How will you help residents maintain contact with their families if visiting restrictions return?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control only; the other key questions were not assessed and the service was not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 February 2021 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, June 2018
Quinnell House was rated Good overall; inspectors found kind, safe care, but management checks and some records needed improvement.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 14 and 17 May 2018. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, staff, relatives and health professionals. They reviewed care plans, risk assessments, medicines records, staff records, policies and quality checks.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring and Responsive. People told inspectors they felt safe and well cared for. Inspectors found suitable staff checks, safe medicines systems, trained staff, good support with food and drink, kind relationships and personalised care.
The Well-led rating was Requires Improvement. Quality checks did not always find shortfalls in diabetes care and record keeping. The report says immediate action was taken, and the legal breaches found at the previous inspection had been met.
The overall rating changed from Requires Improvement at the February 2017 inspection to Good. The report says the next comprehensive inspection will check whether these improvements have lasted.
Safe medicines
Medicines were stored, given and recorded safely. Staff who administered them had training and regular competency checks.
“Medicines were managed safely and in accordance with current regulations and guidance.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw warm relationships between staff and people. Staff respected people's choices, dignity and different ways of communicating.
“People were supported by staff who knew them well and had a good understanding of their needs.” from the report
Food and drink
People had varied choices, flexible mealtimes and regular drinks and snacks. Staff supported people who needed help with eating.
“People were supported to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced diet.” from the report
Personalised activities
The home offered activities throughout the week, including music, exercise, crafts, outings and visits from a therapy dog.
“Activities were provided throughout the day, seven days a week and were developed in line with people's preferences and interests.” from the report
Quality checks did not find every problem
needs fixingAudits had not identified shortfalls in diabetes management and some care records were incomplete. The home acted immediately on the diabetes issue and had action plans in place.
“However, we found that audits were not consistently effective as they had not identified shortfalls in the management of diabetes and not all records to support the care delivered were consistently completed.” from the report
Some activity records lacked detail
minorAlthough activities were available and people generally enjoyed them, records of one-to-one sessions did not always explain the support provided in enough detail.
“It was acknowledged that some records needed to reflect the one to one sessions in more depth.” from the report
- 01How do you now check that diabetes care plans and high blood sugar guidance are complete and followed?
- 02How do you make sure fluid records and other care records are completed consistently?
- 03How do you record one-to-one activities and show that they match each person's interests?
- 04What evidence can you show that the improvements identified after this inspection have been sustained?
- 05How are people and relatives involved in reviewing care plans and raising concerns?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions and checking whether action had been taken after the February 2017 inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 June 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.
Every inspection of Quinnell House
3 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- February 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- June 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- July 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- December 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 28 December 2014.
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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19 live-in carers within about an hour of East Sussex
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 £1,000 to £1,400 a week. 13 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“When he point blank refused to go into hospital for a life saving blood transfusion she talked him through the situation and agreed to go in the ambulance with him and stayed until he was settled.”
“Una felt safe, secure and loved in her time with Debbie which is a gift that I am eternally grateful for.”
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.