CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Sheridan House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home followed infection prevention and control guidance. They found arrangements for testing, PPE, visitors, hygiene, social distancing and managing possible outbreaks.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this inspection report.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this inspection report.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this inspection report.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this inspection report.
What inspectors found, December 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and support for people during COVID-19.
Inspectors visited the home on 12 November 2020. The visit was announced and formed part of a CQC review of infection prevention and control in care homes.
The home supported nine people with learning disabilities and autism. Inspectors found that people were given easy-read information and social stories to help them understand COVID-19 testing.
Inspectors were assured that the home used PPE safely, followed shielding and social distancing rules, supported testing, and had plans for preventing or managing an outbreak. The building was described as extremely clean and odourless.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give a quality rating for the service or for most of the five questions.
Clear information about testing
People were supported to understand COVID-19 tests through social stories and easy-read information. They could decide whether to be tested and where the test took place.
“The registered manager had developed social stories for people living in Sheridan House on topics related to COVID-19, which included regular testing.” from the report
Infection control planning
People and staff had COVID-19 risk assessments. The home also had a business continuity plan and had identified areas to use if there was an outbreak.
“All people living in the service, and staff had COVID-19 risk assessments.” from the report
Visitor safety
Visitors had their temperature checked, completed a health questionnaire and wore full PPE. Visits with relatives took place by appointment in an external building.
“Visitors wore full PPE (personal protective equipment) throughout the duration of their visit.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home extremely clean and without unpleasant smells. The manager carried out cleanliness checks and infection control audits.
“The service looked extremely clean and was odourless.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are people currently supported to understand health checks and testing in a way that suits them?
- 02How do you keep relatives and other visitors safe when they visit the home?
- 03What would happen if there was an infection outbreak, and which areas of the building would be used?
- 04How often are cleanliness checks and infection prevention and control audits carried out?
- 05What are the home's current ratings for Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led, which were not assessed in this report?
This was an announced thematic review of infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic; the home was inspected but not rated and the other key questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 December 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, November 2019
Rated Good in every area; inspectors found kind, personalised care and recent improvements, with some communication and privacy issues to address.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 15 and 18 October 2019. One inspector spoke with one person, four relatives, five staff and two visiting professionals. They also reviewed care plans, medicine records, staff files, training information and quality checks.
The home supported nine people with learning disabilities and autism. Inspectors found people were safe, treated with kindness and involved in decisions about their care. Staff supported people to make choices, become more independent, access healthcare and take part in community activities.
The recently employed registered manager had made many changes to the home, care practices and staff consistency. Inspectors noted some remaining issues, including private information being accessible to visitors, not all staff being trained in sign language, and end of life wishes not yet recorded for everyone.
The home was rated Good overall and Good for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Its previous rating was also Good, published on 27 April 2017.
Personalised support
People were supported to make choices, build independence and receive care suited to their communication needs and preferences.
“People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives” from the report
Safe staffing
Inspectors found enough suitable and skilled staff, with at least one staff member available for each person. The home was no longer using agency staff, which improved consistency.
“A sufficient number of suitable and skilled staff were in place and this had negated the further use of agency staff.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew how people communicated through signs, gestures and sounds. Relatives and professionals spoke positively about the care and involvement in decisions.
“People were treated with respect and kindness. Staff showed patience, compassion and understanding of their needs and wishes.” from the report
Improved activities and environment
The manager had made changes to the building, routines and activities. People had more opportunities to use community facilities and try new activities.
“The registered manager had made a lot of changes in their time in post” from the report
Private information
needs fixingInformation profiles and communication books were accessible outside people's bedrooms. Inspectors said this could leave people's privacy unprotected when visitors were present.
“Information profiles and communication books were currently accessible outside of people's bedrooms, which left people vulnerable for their privacy to not be upheld when visitors where in the home.” from the report
Sign language training
needs fixingNot all staff had been trained to use sign language. Inspectors said this created a risk that people's preferences might not always be understood.
“However, not all staff were trained in the use of sign language.” from the report
End of life wishes
minorGuidance about people's end of life wishes was not yet in all care records. The home was still gathering views from people and relatives.
“Guidance was not yet available in all people's care records about their end of life wishes” from the report
Manager continuity
minorRelatives were concerned about continuity because there had been several registered manager changes over the previous four years.
“Relatives were however, concerned about provider continuity of care due to the number of changes in registered managers in the last four years.” from the report
- 01How do you now keep communication books and information profiles private when visitors are in the home?
- 02Which staff are trained in sign language, and what support is available when a staff member without this training is on duty?
- 03How will you record and regularly review my relative's end of life wishes?
- 04What arrangements are in place to maintain continuity if the registered manager changes?
- 05How do you make sure every staff member supports people to do as much as they can for themselves?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five key questions; the previous Good ratings were reassessed and remained Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 November 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 Sheridan House
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- November 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 10 December 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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