CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Sandy Banks Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks, medicines, safeguarding and infection control were managed safely. Staffing levels were maintained, although there had been a high use of agency staff.
- 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
- The home had clear management systems, regular quality checks and an improvement plan. Staff and relatives said managers were approachable and communication was regular.
What inspectors found, April 2021
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, well-managed care, with high agency staff use and some training affected by the pandemic.
This was a focused inspection on 30 and 31 March 2021. It followed concerns about whether personal care, skin care and health care were being provided safely. Inspectors found no evidence to support those concerns.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found suitable risk plans, safe medicines management, appropriate recruitment checks and good infection control procedures. Relatives said people were safe and well cared for.
The home had regular checks on care and records. Staff and relatives said managers were approachable and communication had continued during lockdown. Inspectors noted there had been a high use of agency staff, although agency staff were described as consistent and supported by experienced staff.
Risk management
Care records included plans for mobility, falls, nutrition, hydration, medicines and pressure care. Inspectors found these plans were reviewed and updated regularly.
“We saw the management plans had been reviewed and updated regularly.” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors found that Covid 19 procedures were updated and followed. Staff were seen using personal protective equipment throughout the inspection.
“We observed staff used personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times.” from the report
Open communication
Relatives said they received regular updates during lockdown and could contact the manager if they had concerns.
“I get at least one phone call a week.” from the report
Quality checks
The provider checked care practice and records and recorded improvements in an improvement plan.
“The provider had effective quality monitoring in place and worked alongside the local authority commissioners quality assurance processes.” from the report
Use of agency staff
minorThe home had used agency staff frequently. Inspectors said the agency staff were consistent and supported by experienced staff, but families may still want to ask how continuity is maintained.
“There had been a high use of agency staff, however agency staff were consistent and supported by experienced staff.” from the report
Training affected by the pandemic
minorInspectors noted that opportunities for continuous learning had been limited by the pandemic. Some training for nursing staff in complex medicines management had been planned.
“Opportunities for continuous learning had been affected by the pandemic, however some training had been planned for nursing staff in relation to complex medicine management skills.” from the report
- 01How often are agency staff used now, and how do you make sure they know each resident's care and risk plans?
- 02Has the planned training for nursing staff in complex medicines management been completed?
- 03How are relatives updated about incidents, changes in health and decisions about care?
- 04How often are risk assessments and care plans reviewed and updated?
- 05What infection control procedures are currently used if there is a Covid 19 outbreak?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only, prompted by concerns about personal care, skin care and health care; the other key questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 30 April 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, May 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and well-organised care, with improvements since the previous inspection.
Inspectors visited the home without warning on 12 April 2018. They spoke with people, relatives, staff and a health professional. They observed care and meals, toured the building, and checked care, staff and management records.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found safe medicines practice, suitable staff training, respectful care, up-to-date care plans, activities and systems for handling complaints.
The home had improved since the previous inspection in 2016. The earlier inspection found four areas that needed improvement and a breach about consent. This inspection found that the home was meeting current legal requirements.
Safer medicines management
Inspectors saw medicines being given safely. Storage, stock checks, fridge temperatures and audits were in place, with action taken when issues were found.
“We observed part of the medication round and saw people received their medicines safely.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff spoke kindly to people, protected their privacy and supported their independence. Care was given without rushing people.
“We observed staff consistently respecting people's privacy and dignity.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans and risk assessments were regularly reviewed and included people's needs, likes and choices. Activities also supported people's interests.
“These supported staff in the delivery of person centred care and they were up to date and reflected people's needs, likes and choices.” from the report
Improved leadership
Inspectors found evidence of regular audits, staff meetings and feedback. Relatives, staff and professionals gave positive feedback about the management.
“Details of audits were seen, which demonstrated the home's proactive approach to the oversight and management of the service.” from the report
Staffing could feel stretched
needs fixingMost feedback said there were enough staff, but one person said the increasing workload sometimes made the service feel stretched. The home was still recruiting and did not yet use a staffing analysis tool.
“However, one person told us they felt there was enough staff, but that due to the increasing workload it felt, 'stretched at times.'” from the report
Some medicine records had gaps
needs fixingMost medicine administration records were complete, but inspectors found two gaps. The home investigated these and provided supervision to staff.
“Where two gaps had been identified, the compliance manager told us an immediate investigation was commenced and supervision sessions were undertaken” from the report
Some improvements were still ongoing
minorSome refurbishment had been completed, but further work was planned. Feedback also said bathroom improvements were taking too long.
“However not all comments were positive. For example, 'I don't feel as though the staff get the recognition they deserve for the work that they do' and 'The bathroom improvements are taking too long.'” from the report
- 01How do you check that staffing levels remain sufficient when workloads increase?
- 02What action was taken after the two gaps in medicine administration records, and how do you check that records remain complete?
- 03How will you keep families updated about changes in their relative's care?
- 04Which bathroom and other refurbishment works were still outstanding, and when are they expected to be completed?
- 05How are people's consent and best-interest decisions reviewed over time?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the premises and care provided, and it checked improvements made since the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 May 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 Sandy Banks Care Home
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- April 2021Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2016
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 May 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.