CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at 5 Seafield Road
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People appeared safe, and inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs. Recruitment checks, risk assessments, medicine systems and infection control were described as effective.
- Effective?
- Good
- Care plans were based on assessed needs and were reviewed. Staff supported nutrition, exercise, healthcare and communication, and worked with other professionals.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Staff were exceptionally skilled at communicating with people who were deafblind and had learning disabilities. Inspectors found strong relationships, respect for privacy and support for choice and independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was personalised and people were supported with their interests, relationships and community activities. Inspectors noted that end-of-life care wishes had not yet been recorded in guidance for staff.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The managers were visible and approachable, and staff felt valued. Audits, meetings and feedback systems were used to monitor care and make improvements.
What inspectors found, September 2019
SENSE - 5 Seafield Road was rated Good overall, with Outstanding caring and no major safety concerns found.
This was an unannounced planned inspection. One inspector met all six people living at the home, observed care and communication, checked two care records and medicine records, and spoke with staff, relatives and professionals.
Inspectors found safe, effective and personalised care. Staff understood people's communication needs, supported their health and independence, and helped them take part in activities, holidays and community life. Medicines were given safely and on time.
The overall rating was Good, and this was unchanged from the previous inspection. Caring improved from Good to Outstanding. The home was also rated Good for Safe, Effective, Responsive and Well-led.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors found a strong culture where people were valued, and staff built close, trusting relationships with them.
“The service had a strong, visible, person centred culture.” from the report
Communication
Staff used personalised methods such as signs, objects, touch, photographs and individual communication dictionaries to help people express choices.
“Staff were exceptionally skilled at communicating and involving people in decision making.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were supported to make everyday decisions, develop skills and take part in activities that mattered to them.
“Staff promoted people to increase their independence and develop new skills.” from the report
Health support
Staff monitored health conditions, arranged appointments and worked with health professionals to provide consistent treatment and exercise support.
“People were supported to access healthcare services and staff ensured they received medical treatment promptly when they required it.” from the report
Open management
The home had regular audits, staff meetings and feedback from families. Inspectors found managers visible and knowledgeable about people's needs.
“The registered manager was visible around the home and had an excellent knowledge of people's preferences and routines and led by example.” from the report
End-of-life wishes
needs fixingThere were no guidelines explaining people's wishes if they became very unwell or approached the end of their lives. The manager said they planned to address this.
“Currently, there were no guidelines for staff about the care people would like to receive, or where they would like to be cared for, if they became very unwell or were approaching the end of their lives.” from the report
Recent staff departures
minorSome staff had recently left and recruitment was under way. The home used regular bank and agency staff who knew people well to maintain continuity.
“Some staff had recently left and the registered manager was recruiting new staff.” from the report
- 01How many staff are currently employed, and has recruitment after the recent staff departures been completed?
- 02How often are bank or agency staff used, and how are they introduced to each person's communication and support needs?
- 03Have the four outstanding Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards applications now been assessed?
- 04How are people's wishes about treatment, care and where they would like to be cared for at the end of life recorded?
- 05How will you support my relative to communicate choices and make decisions in a way they understand?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, the care provided and the home environment; the previous overall rating was Good and remained unchanged. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 September 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.
What inspectors found, February 2017
SENSE - 5 Seafield Road was rated Good; inspectors found kind, personalised care, with some staffing recruitment still under way.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 5 January 2017. One inspector met all six people living at the home, spoke with staff and an advocate, and gathered views from health and social care professionals. Records, care plans, medicines, staffing and quality checks were also examined.
Inspectors found that people were safe, treated with dignity and supported by staff who understood their communication and health needs. Care was tailored to each person. People were supported with food, exercise, healthcare, activities, holidays and visits into the local community.
All five areas were rated Good: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. The report says there was a registered manager, a clear management structure and systems to check quality and make improvements. Some staff had left and recruitment was continuing, although most staff said staffing levels met people's needs.
Health support
People had detailed health plans and regular access to healthcare. Staff acted on advice from health professionals and supported nutrition, exercise and mobility.
“People were supported to improve their health through good nutrition and to improve and retain their mobility through a regular exercise programme.” from the report
Activities and community life
People took part in activities suited to their interests, including cooking, reading, swimming, shopping and visits to local places.
“People pursued a range of hobbies, activities and individual interests.” from the report
Management and quality checks
The home had an experienced manager, clear responsibilities and systems for checking care records, medicines, safety and improvements.
“The provider had a variety of systems in place to monitor the quality of care and made changes and improvements in response to findings.” from the report
Recruitment and staffing capacity
needs fixingSome staff had left and recruitment was continuing. Most staff felt staffing was enough for people's care, but two said more staff would allow more one-to-one activities, and a professional said recommendations could sometimes be difficult to implement.
“Some staff had recently left and two staff were undertaking a period of induction. Further recruitment was underway to meet the staffing shortfall.” from the report
- 01How many permanent staff currently work at the home, and has the staffing shortfall described in the report been resolved?
- 02How often are agency staff used, and how do you make sure they understand each person's communication and support needs?
- 03How would you communicate with my relative, and would staff be able to use their preferred communication methods from the start?
- 04What is the current position on Deprivation of Liberty applications that were still awaiting assessment at the time of the inspection?
- 05How are one-to-one activities and community trips planned when staffing levels are under pressure?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection of all five areas, covering all six people, two care plans, staff and agency staffing, medicines, safety, complaints and quality monitoring. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 February 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.
Every inspection of 5 Seafield Road
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- September 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 29 November 2010.
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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17 live-in carers within about an hour of Devon
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 £1,020 to £1,270 a week. 15 can care for a couple. 13 years' experience on average.
“She is such a warm and gentle person while being professional and competent at the same time.”
“She looked after my mum, who can be incredibly challenging, so well and so gently, and we always felt confident that my mum was getting the best care available.”
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.