CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Sandhurst Rest Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about visiting controls, social distancing, protective equipment, testing and safe admissions. They were only somewhat assured about cleaning records, infection-control auditing and individual COVID-19 risk assessments.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, February 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good support for visiting and staying in touch, but infection-control records and risk assessments needed improvement.
This was a targeted, announced inspection during the COVID-19 pandemic. It looked at infection prevention and control in the home. The report gives both 27 and 28 January 2021 as the inspection date.
Inspectors found several positive arrangements. Relatives were kept informed about visiting changes. The home had a visitor pod, supported end-of-life visits, and helped people stay in touch through video calls, phone calls and social media.
The home was clean and hygienic, and staff used protective equipment and followed testing, distancing and visiting arrangements. However, records did not show that frequently touched areas were cleaned regularly. There was no infection-control audit, and individual COVID-19 risk assessments had not been recorded.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the inspection did not give an overall quality rating or a separate rating for Safe.
Safer visiting arrangements
The home created a separate visitor pod and supported end-of-life visits. Relatives were kept updated about changes to visiting procedures.
“The provider had created a visitor 'pod' within a room for when the home were able to open to visitors.” from the report
Keeping families connected
People were supported to communicate with relatives through video calls and phone calls. The home also shared photographs and activity updates on social media with consent.
“People were being supported to keep in touch with their loved ones through a range of video-calling technology and phone calls.” from the report
Activities continued
Activities continued and were adapted to reduce infection risks, including measures for making and eating biscuits.
“Activities had continued at the home and people were supported to keep engaged.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean and hygienic, with a regular housekeeper and a cleaning schedule.
“The home was clean and hygienic. There was a regular housekeeper that worked at the service.” from the report
Cleaning records were incomplete
needs fixingRecords did not show that frequently touched areas were being cleaned regularly. The provider said this would be addressed immediately.
“Recording did not reflect that frequently touched areas were being regularly cleaned.” from the report
No infection-control audit
needs fixingThe home had daily checks but no infection prevention and control audit. The provider said an audit would be introduced.
“The registered manager made daily checks of the service and the environment, however there was no infection prevention and control audit.” from the report
COVID-19 risk assessments were not recorded
needs fixingPeople and staff did not have individual risk assessments showing whether they might be at increased risk from COVID-19. The provider said these would be put in place after the inspection.
“People and staff did not have individual risk assessments in place to identify whether they may be at increased risk from COVID-19.” from the report
- 01Have frequently touched areas been recorded as cleaned regularly since the inspection?
- 02Has an infection prevention and control audit been introduced, and can families see how actions are followed up?
- 03Are individual COVID-19 risk assessments now in place for every person living in the home and every staff member?
- 04Have the clinical waste bins been changed to foot-operated bins?
- 05How are visiting arrangements and end-of-life visits managed now?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic; the service was inspected but not rated and no other quality areas were rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 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, December 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care with effective management across all five areas.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 30 September 2019. One inspector spoke with 10 people, six relatives and six staff. They observed care, checked records and sought views from other professionals.
The inspectors found people felt safe and were treated kindly and respectfully. Staff knew people's needs well, supported their choices and helped them access healthcare, activities and relationships that mattered to them.
Medicines, staffing, recruitment, infection control and risk management were found to be well managed. Care plans were personalised, staff were trained, and complaints had been investigated properly.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This means the inspectors found the service consistently met the expected standards at the time of this inspection.
People felt safe
People and relatives told inspectors they had no concerns about safety. Staff had safeguarding training and understood how to reduce risks without unnecessarily restricting people's choices.
“People said they had no concerns about their safety and relatives were equally positive that people were safe.” from the report
Medicines were well managed
Inspectors found suitable systems for ordering, storing, giving and disposing of medicines. Staff were trained and their competence was checked.
“We found appropriate systems were in place for the ordering, receipt, storage, giving out and disposal of medicines.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans recorded people's needs and wishes, and staff understood that support could change from day to day. People were involved in decisions about their care.
“Care plans had been personalised and reflected people's individual needs and wishes.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw staff checking how people were and offering help while respecting privacy, dignity and independence.
“People were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.” from the report
Good oversight
The provider and manager used audits, meetings and feedback to check the quality of care. Staff said they felt supported and valued.
“The provider and registered manager had effective quality assurance systems to monitor the services provided.” from the report
Food and social life
People had meal choices and could eat where they preferred. Activities and visits were adapted to people's interests and wishes.
“Mealtimes were relaxed and sociable. People sat together in groups of their choice and chatted to each other and staff.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you decide whether staffing levels are enough when a person's needs change or someone becomes unwell?
- 02How are medicines reviewed with GPs and pharmacists, and how are medicine errors checked for now?
- 03How will you involve my relative and our family in reviewing their care plan and risk assessments?
- 04What activities are available for someone who prefers one-to-one time or to stay in their room?
- 05How would you support my relative if they needed end of life care at the home?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five key questions, including both the premises and the care provided; all five ratings remained Good from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 December 2019 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 Sandhurst Rest Home
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 14 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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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.