CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Smythe House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control measures were in place, including testing, protective equipment, cleaning, isolation and visiting arrangements. They identified parts of the environment that needed improvement to reduce cross-contamination risks.
- Effective?
- Good
- No rating or findings are given in this targeted report.
- Caring?
- Good
- No rating or findings are given in this targeted report.
- Responsive?
- Good
- No rating or findings are given in this targeted report.
- Well-led?
- Good
- No rating or findings are given in this targeted report.
What inspectors found, March 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong COVID-19 infection controls but some parts of the environment needed improvement.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 09 February 2022. It focused on infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic, and on whether staffing pressures were affecting care.
Inspectors were assured that the home was managing infection risks. This included supplies of protective equipment, staff testing, cleaning records, safe visiting arrangements and up-to-date infection control policies.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the visit did not produce a Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate rating. Inspectors found that some areas needed decorating or updating so they could be disinfected properly.
Protective equipment
The home had plentiful supplies of gloves, masks and aprons. Protective equipment stations were placed around the home, including near bedrooms where people had to isolate.
“There were plentiful supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) throughout the home which included gloves, masks and aprons.” from the report
Infection control arrangements
The home used isolation, grouping and zoning to manage possible infection spread. Staff also followed daily and weekly testing arrangements.
“Isolation, cohorting and zoning were being used to manage any potential spread of infection.” from the report
Cleaning and staff training
Inspectors saw cleaning records, including cleaning of frequently touched surfaces. Staff had infection control training and recent training on using protective equipment correctly.
“We saw various cleaning records which included regular high touch point cleaning to ensure the potential for cross infection had been reduced.” from the report
Visiting and vaccination
Inspectors were assured that visits followed current guidance. The home was also meeting the requirement for non-exempt staff and visiting professionals to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
“We were assured the service was following current Government guidance on visiting arrangements.” from the report
Parts of the environment needed updating
needs fixingSome areas needed decorating and updating so they could be disinfected properly. Inspectors also identified a cleaning product and bathroom furniture that needed improvement to reduce cross-contamination risks.
“There were areas of the environment which required to be decorated and updated to ensure they were disinfectable.” from the report
- 01What progress has been made with the refurbishment that was delayed by the pandemic?
- 02Which areas still need decorating or updating so they can be disinfected properly?
- 03What cleaning product and bathroom furniture were identified as needing improvement, and have they now been replaced or improved?
- 04How are current staffing pressures being managed, and have they affected people's care?
- 05How are staff and visiting professionals' COVID-19 testing and vaccination requirements checked?
This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and staffing pressures; it did not provide ratings for the other key questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 March 2022 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
Smythe House was rated Good, with inspectors finding safe, kind and personalised care and no serious risks or concerns.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 23 and 28 February 2018. One inspector spoke with people and staff, observed care, viewed the home and checked care, medicines, recruitment, training and quality records.
The home supported six people during the inspection and specialised in caring for adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome and complex needs. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicines management, suitable food and health support, and care plans that were regularly reviewed.
People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Their choices, activities, communication needs and links with family and friends were supported. The home had systems to learn from problems and monitor the quality of care.
All five areas were rated Good: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. The report says the previous overall Good rating remained supported and found no serious risks or concerns.
Prader-Willi Syndrome support
Staff understood the specific health and behaviour risks linked to Prader-Willi Syndrome and used regular checks and individual knowledge to reduce them.
“Staff were mindful of, and acted upon, specific risks associated with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS)” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People were treated with dignity and compassion, and staff respected their privacy, preferences and personal space.
“People were supported in a caring and inclusive way.” from the report
Personalised activities
Activities and outings were matched to people’s interests, abilities and motivation. Care plans were reviewed with people and reflected their changing needs.
“Activities, including outings into the community, suited people's individual likes and dislikes and were tailored to their capabilities and motivation.” from the report
Food and health support
People had balanced diets suited to their needs, with food intake monitored. Staff arranged healthcare support and acted promptly when health concerns arose.
“People were supported to eat, drink and maintain a healthy balanced diet that was suitable for people with PWS.” from the report
Good oversight
The home used audits, feedback and staff discussions to review care and make improvements.
“People received a service that was monitored for quality throughout the year using the systems put in place by the provider.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you monitor and respond to changes in a person’s health or behaviour, particularly if they may not report pain or illness?
- 02How are individual food plans and calorie monitoring managed each day?
- 03How is restricted access to food explained, agreed and reviewed with each person?
- 04How often are care plans and risk assessments reviewed with the person and their family or representatives?
- 05What Prader-Willi Syndrome refresher training have staff completed recently?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions and the overall quality of the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 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 Smythe House
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- May 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 21 January 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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89 live-in carers within about an hour of North Northamptonshire
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. 76 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“If you bump into her in the night on her way to the bathroom she will still inquire how you are and if everything is alright.”
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.