CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Sand Banks Care Centre
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Risks were assessed and managed, staffing levels were sufficient, recruitment checks were completed and medicines were managed safely. Infection control procedures were also found to be effective.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had the skills, training and supervision needed for their roles. People's nutrition, hydration, healthcare and communication needs were assessed and supported.
- Caring?
- Good
- People said staff were caring and that they felt well looked after. Staff respected people's privacy, dignity, choices and preferences.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were detailed and personalised, and people's preferences were followed. Activities were available, but some relatives said there were not enough activities after the activities co-ordinator left.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The manager was respected and staff felt supported. Audits and other checks were used to monitor care and identify improvements.
What inspectors found, February 2023
Sand Banks Care Centre rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind care, but relatives reported too few activities.
This was an unannounced follow-up inspection. Inspectors visited the home, spoke with three people, eight relatives and 10 staff, and reviewed care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that risks were assessed, medicines were managed safely, staffing was sufficient, and staff had the training and support they needed.
Care was personalised and people were treated with dignity and respect. Relatives gave mixed feedback about activities, with some saying there were too few since the activities co-ordinator left.
The home had previously been rated Requires Improvement, with breaches of regulations. Inspectors found improvements had been made and that the home was no longer in breach.
Risk management
The home had clear risk assessments and care plans. Accidents and incidents were reviewed so lessons could be used to reduce future risks.
“Risks to people were assessed and managed. Care plans and risk assessments were clear, detailed and robust” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans included people's histories, interests, likes, dislikes and preferences. Staff used this information to provide care in the way people wanted.
“People had detailed and personalised care plans in place.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
People said they were happy and well looked after. Staff supported privacy, dignity and personal choices.
“I am happy here, the staff look after me lovely.” from the report
Supportive leadership
Staff said they could raise concerns with the manager and felt their views mattered. Management checks were used to improve the service.
“The registered manager created an environment which was open and inclusive.” from the report
Activities
minorSome relatives said activities had reduced after the activities co-ordinator left. They were concerned that people could become bored.
“The activities co-ordinator left before Christmas, I don't think they've replaced them, but I wish they would, [person] gets bored.” from the report
- 01How many activities are currently offered each week, and who is responsible for organising them?
- 02What has been done to prevent people becoming bored since the activities co-ordinator left?
- 03How are my relative's risk assessments and care plans reviewed when their needs change?
- 04How will you show that the improvements to governance and care records are being maintained?
- 05How will my relative and our family be involved in reviewing their care and activities?
This was an unannounced follow-up inspection covering all five key questions and infection prevention and control; the report lists visit dates as 19 and 30 January 2023, while its detailed section also refers to a visit on 26 January 2023. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 February 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, July 2021
Sand Banks Care Centre is Requires Improvement; inspectors found caring staff and safe medicines, but care records and management checks put people at risk.
This was an unannounced, focused inspection on 17 and 22 June 2021. Inspectors spoke with people, relatives and staff, observed care, and checked care records, medicines, recruitment and management systems.
The home was clean and well maintained. Medicines were managed safely, staff knew people well, and people and relatives said they felt safe and cared for. Infection control arrangements were generally in place, including support for visits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, care records were sometimes inconsistent, out of date or missing important information about risks, needs and preferences. Accidents and complaints were not always reviewed properly, and quality checks had failed to find these problems. The home remained in breach of Regulations 12 and 17 and was rated Requires Improvement for Safe, Responsive and Well-led.
Caring staff
People, relatives and inspectors found that staff knew people well and supported them positively, even when records were incomplete.
“People received care from staff who knew their needs, choices, and preferences extremely well despite care records not being consistent” from the report
Medicines
Medicines were received, stored and given safely. Staff had training and checks of their competence.
“Medicines were safely received, stored and administered.” from the report
Clean and maintained
The home was clean, well maintained and had suitable infection control supplies and equipment checks.
“The environment and equipment were safe and well maintained.” from the report
Activities and relationships
The home provided daily activities suited to people's social and cultural needs and helped people maintain links with others.
“The service provided a range of daily activities both within the service and, COVID-19 restrictions permitting, in the wider community.” from the report
Incomplete risk information
seriousSome records gave conflicting information about risks and people's current needs. This could mean staff did not have clear written guidance to keep someone safe.
“Care records for some people contained conflicting information about risk and did not always accurately reflect their current needs.” from the report
Weak quality checks
seriousManagement audits did not identify problems with care records, risk assessments and the handling of accidents and incidents.
“The provider's quality monitoring of the service had failed to improve sufficiently since the last inspection.” from the report
Care plans not personalised enough
needs fixingCare plans were not always up to date and did not consistently record people's preferences, wishes and choices.
“Care records did not detail people's preferences and wishes and were more task orientated.” from the report
Complaints handling
needs fixingSome recent complaints had not been dealt with in line with the home's complaints policy. The provider took action during the inspection.
“Records showed some recent complaints had not been addressed in line with the provider's complaints policy.” from the report
Management changes
needs fixingThere had been several management changes, which reduced the consistency and direction of the home. There was no CQC-registered manager at the inspection.
“There had been a number of changes to the management of the home since the last inspection, this had led to a lack of clear and consistent direction for the home.” from the report
- 01Have all residents' care records and risk assessments now been reviewed, especially risks involving eating and drinking?
- 02How will you make sure care plans record each person's current needs, preferences, wishes and choices?
- 03What changes have been made to quality checks so that problems with care records, accidents and incidents are found promptly?
- 04How are complaints now tracked to make sure they are handled within the home's complaints policy?
- 05Who is currently responsible for managing the home, and how are you providing consistent direction while the manager's registration application is being processed?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Responsive and Well-led, including infection control; the ratings for Effective and Caring were carried over from the previous comprehensive inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 20 July 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.
Every inspection of Sand Banks Care Centre
3 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- February 2023Goodcurrent ratingup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2021Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- January 2020Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2018
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 24 October 2018.
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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