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CQC report explained · a residential care home

What the CQC found at Short Break Respite Unit

Goodpublished 14 December 2018, 7 years ago

Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.

The five questions inspectors ask
Safe?
Good
People had risk assessments and staff knew how to reduce risks such as choking and illness. Recruitment checks, medicines procedures, infection control and staffing arrangements were all described positively.
Effective?
Good
People's needs, interests, diet and allergies were assessed and recorded. Staff received induction, training, supervision and appraisals, and people were supported with nutrition, healthcare and decision-making.
Caring?
Good
People and relatives said staff were kind and understanding. Inspectors saw positive interactions and found that staff knew people's histories, likes, dislikes and communication needs.
Responsive?
Good
Support was personalised and records were kept up to date. Reviews took place after each stay, families could give feedback, and people and relatives were told how to complain.
Well-led?
Good
The home had an open and positive culture, with regular audits, staff support and an on-call system. The manager was described as approachable and focused on person-centred support.
The latest report, explained

What inspectors found, December 2018

Short Break Respite Unit is rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with all five areas rated Good.

This was an announced comprehensive inspection on 31 October 2018. One inspector spoke with three people using the service, two relatives, the manager and two staff members. They reviewed care plans, medicines records, training records, recruitment records and quality checks.

The inspectors found that people were kept safe, received their medicines as prescribed and had enough staff support. Staff understood people's individual needs, supported their choices and treated them with dignity and respect. Care plans were updated after each respite stay.

The home was judged Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was the same overall rating as at the previous inspection on 8 April 2016. The report found no serious risks or concerns.

What inspectors praised
  • Individual safety planning

    Each person had a detailed support plan and risk assessment. Staff knew how to support individual health and safety needs.

    “Each person had a risk assessment and information for the staff to follow for the purpose of keeping the person safe.” from the report
  • Kind and respectful staff

    People and relatives described staff as kind and understanding. Inspectors saw people relaxed, comfortable and involved in positive interactions.

    “We observed that the staff knew the people well and there were positive interactions between the people using the service and the staff who supported them.” from the report
  • Personalised respite

    Care plans recorded people's choices, interests and preferences. Reviews after each stay helped inform future visits.

    “Care plans focussed upon the needs of each person and took into account their choices and preferences.” from the report
  • Training and oversight

    Staff received induction, ongoing training, supervision and appraisals. Audits and checks were used to identify issues and make improvements.

    “The service continued to monitor and review the quality and effectiveness of the service.” from the report
What inspectors were concerned about

Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.

Questions to ask them, based on this report
  1. 01How will you update and review my relative's support plan after each respite stay?
  2. 02How will you manage my relative's medicines, including checking them when they return home?
  3. 03What staffing level will be available during my relative's stay, including overnight?
  4. 04How will you support my relative's specific health risks, allergies, diet, communication needs and preferred activities?
  5. 05How would you handle an urgent request for respite or a complaint about my relative's care?

This was an announced comprehensive inspection covering all five questions, with records, staff, people and relatives consulted; all five ratings remained Good from 2016. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 December 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.

The story over the years

Every inspection of Short Break Respite Unit

2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.

  1. December 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed Good
    Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good

    Read what inspectors found at Short Break Respite Unit →

  2. May 2016Good
    Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good

    We are reading this report · the original is on cqc.org.uk

  3. June 2014

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  4. December 2013

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  5. July 2012

    Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 2 July 2012.

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.

Next steps

Weigh the report against the rest

Care at home

23 live-in carers within about an hour of Suffolk

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 £1,260 a week. 17 can care for a couple. 7 years' experience on average.

“Not only was she professional, polite and efficient but she bought a lovely smile and laughter to my parents home.”
Liz L., about Sithembiso N.
See live-in carers near SuffolkProfiles, rates and reviews are free to look at.

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.