CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Rossall
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Outstanding
- Inspectors found exceptionally high staffing levels, strong safeguarding training and effective systems for managing falls, seizures, medicines and infection. They found no serious injuries or hospital admissions caused by falls in the previous 12 months.
- Effective?
- Outstanding
- People received detailed assessments and proactive support from different health professionals. Inspectors found outstanding nutritional care, staff training, oral healthcare and support that followed mental capacity law.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect. People and relatives said staff were exceptionally caring, supported personal choices and helped people take part in decisions about their care.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Care was tailored to people's preferences, communication needs and health conditions. Inspectors found a wide programme of activities, regular contact with relatives and outstanding end of life care.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- The home had strong leadership, an inclusive culture and detailed audits. The management team sought feedback from people, relatives and staff and worked with other organisations to improve care.
What inspectors found, January 2020
Rossall was rated Outstanding overall; inspectors found exceptionally safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led care.
This was an unannounced inspection on 20 November 2019. Two inspectors, a specialist adviser and an Expert by Experience visited the home. They spoke with people, relatives, staff, the manager and visiting health professionals. They observed care, checked the building and reviewed records, staffing, recruitment and training.
The home provided nursing and personal care for 46 people with complex needs. Inspectors found exceptionally high staffing levels, highly trained staff and strong systems for safeguarding, medicines, risk management and infection control. They also found very effective health support, nutrition and consent arrangements.
People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Care was highly personalised, with extensive activities, communication support and end of life care. The home had strong leadership, regular feedback and detailed checks to improve safety and quality.
The overall rating was Outstanding. All five areas were rated Outstanding, and all five ratings had remained Outstanding since the previous inspection, published on 7 June 2017.
High staffing levels
The home used exceptionally high staffing levels and different staff roles to support safety, meaningful activities and people's changing needs.
“Throughout each day 50 to 55 staff assisted 46 people, dependent on the number of external social activities and appointments.” from the report
Specialist safety support
The home used specialist systems to identify risks such as seizures, falls and incontinence. Staff were able to respond quickly and provide personalised support.
“The provider was highly effective in sustaining people's safety.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors found that staff protected people's dignity, individuality and rights. People were supported to maintain relationships, attend places of worship and express their preferences.
“The management team and staff embraced people's diversity and excelled in sensitive care delivery centred on optimising people's human rights.” from the report
Personalised activities
People could take part in group and individual activities, including cinema visits, sensory activities and outings. Staff adapted activities for people who did not want to join groups.
“Co-ordinators delivered a programme of group activities from 8am to 8pm every day.” from the report
Strong communication
Staff used different ways to understand people who could not communicate easily. Relatives also received regular updates, photographs and information about care plan changes.
“The management team also introduced other formats to improve people's interaction skills.” from the report
Strong leadership and improvement
Managers used many audits, meetings and feedback systems to monitor care and act on learning. Staff and relatives said communication with the management team was excellent.
“The management team analysed results from all surveys with a clear desire to continuously improve.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01Are staffing levels still similar to the reported 50 to 55 staff supporting 46 people, and how do they change for appointments and activities?
- 02How would you support my relative's particular complex needs, including any seizure, falls, mobility or communication risks?
- 03What activities are available each day, including one-to-one activities for someone who does not want to join group activities?
- 04How will you keep me updated about changes in my relative's health, care plan and daily life?
- 05How would you support my relative and our family if end of life care became necessary?
This was an unannounced, planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, the care provided and the premises. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 January 2020 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 2017
Rated Outstanding in every area; inspectors found exceptionally safe, kind, personalised care and strong leadership.
The unannounced inspection took place on 8 and 9 March 2017. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff, managers and healthcare professionals. They also observed care, checked the building and reviewed care and staff records.
Inspectors found very high staffing levels, detailed risk assessments and safe medicines systems. Staff were well trained and treated people with patience, dignity and respect. Care plans were highly personal and changed when people's needs changed.
The home was praised for its calm setting, activities, dementia-friendly design and support for relatives. Inspectors rated the home Outstanding for safe, effective, caring and responsive care, and for leadership. This was the home's first inspection.
High staffing levels
Inspectors found unusually high staffing levels and a broad mix of skills. This gave staff time to provide meaningful one-to-one support and respond when people's needs changed.
“During our inspection, we found Rossall had exceptionally high staffing levels and skill mixes to enhance people's safety and welfare.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans included people's backgrounds, preferences, routines and interests. Staff used this information in day-to-day care and changed plans when support was no longer working.
“We found care planning enabled staff to work in a highly personalised and holistic approach.” from the report
Kind and dignified support
Staff were seen offering reassurance, respecting personal space and helping people make everyday choices. The home also put strong emphasis on sensitive end of life care.
“End of life care plans we reviewed were very detailed, person-centred and had the person and their relatives at the heart of their support.” from the report
Strong safety systems
The home used detailed risk assessments, regular reviews and technology to reduce falls, pressure ulcers and other risks. Inspectors found staff acted quickly when risks changed.
“Care files held thorough risk assessments to mitigate each hazard to people's safety and welfare.” from the report
Good involvement of families
Relatives were involved before admission and during care planning. The home kept families informed about changes in health and encouraged them to maintain close relationships.
“Staff worked extremely collaboratively with people and their relatives in their care planning.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have staffing levels and the mix of skills changed since the inspection, especially after the additional 13 bedrooms were registered?
- 02How are the sensor lighting, bed safety strips and incontinence alerts checked and maintained now?
- 03How often are care plans, mental capacity records and medicines audits reviewed and updated?
- 04How do you involve relatives in care planning and keep them informed when a person's health or needs change?
- 05What activities and communication support are currently available for people with dementia or complex mental health needs?
This was the home's first unannounced inspection and covered all five CQC questions; inspectors also used observations, conversations and checks of care, staff and safety records. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 June 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 Rossall
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Outstanding rating throughout.
- January 2020Outstandingcurrent ratingstayed OutstandingSafe: OutstandingEffective: OutstandingCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- June 2017OutstandingSafe: OutstandingEffective: OutstandingCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- March 2016
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 18 March 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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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.