CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at 28 Southdown Road
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks were assessed and managed, staffing levels were sufficient, recruitment checks were followed and medicines were administered safely. The home was clean and equipment was regularly checked.
- Effective?
- Good
- People had detailed assessments and care plans, and staff received training and supervision. Staff worked well with health professionals and responded promptly when people's health changed.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were described as friendly, respectful and attentive. They supported people to express choices in their own ways and promoted dignity, privacy and independence.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Care was highly personalised and flexible. People were supported to enjoy meaningful activities, maintain family relationships, communicate their preferences and receive exceptional end-of-life care.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found a strong person-centred culture, supportive leadership and effective quality checks. Staff, relatives and professionals spoke positively about the management and staff team.
What inspectors found, June 2019
Rated Good overall; inspectors found highly person-centred care, with an Outstanding rating for responsiveness.
This was an unannounced inspection on 9 and 17 May 2019. One inspector observed care, spoke with the manager and staff, and reviewed care plans, medicines records, daily records, audits and safety checks. Feedback was also gathered from relatives, GPs and others who knew the home.
The home supported up to seven adults with complex physical and learning disabilities. Inspectors found people were safe, treated with dignity and supported by staff who knew them well. Staff managed medicines, health needs, risks and eating and drinking safely.
The strongest area was responsiveness. Inspectors found care was highly personalised, with people supported to communicate, enjoy activities, maintain relationships and achieve individual goals. The home was rated Good overall, with Good ratings for Safe, Effective, Caring and Well-led, and Outstanding for Responsive.
The home had also been rated Good at the previous inspection in October 2016. This inspection was planned because of that rating, and the overall rating remained Good.
Highly personalised support
Staff understood people's individual needs and preferences, and adapted support so people could live meaningful lives and take part in activities they enjoyed.
“The care was very person centred and the staff team had an exceptional understanding of people's individual needs and preferences.” from the report
Responsive healthcare
Staff noticed changes in people's health, sought medical advice and adjusted care with health professionals. Inspectors found this improved people's wellbeing and quality of life.
“The staff were exceptionally skilled at responding to changes in people's physical well-being and altering their care and support accordingly.” from the report
Respectful communication
Staff took time to understand people who did not use words as their main form of communication. They used body language, sounds and other signs to understand choices and preferences.
“Staff took the time to understand people and checked this understanding back with people guided by the person's body language or vocalisations.” from the report
Safe and competent care
Inspectors found suitable staffing, training, risk management, medicines systems and infection control arrangements.
“People received safe care. Staff were aware of their responsibility to keep people safe.” from the report
Positive leadership
The home had a clear focus on person-centred care. Staff said they felt supported, and audits were used to identify improvements.
“The service was well led, with a clear focus on person centred care, which empowered people and their relatives to make decisions about their care.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you learn and record my relative's individual ways of communicating, including signs of discomfort or distress?
- 02How would staff notice and respond to changes in my relative's health, and how would they work with GPs and other professionals?
- 03What activities and community visits could my relative take part in, and how would you support their family relationships?
- 04How do you check that medicines are given safely and in line with my relative's preferences?
- 05How consistent is the staff team, and what happens if staffing or my relative's needs change?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, including both the care provided and the care home premises. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 June 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, November 2016
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with all five areas rated Good.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 11 October 2016. One inspector visited the home, met five of the seven residents and spoke with staff and the registered manager. Two residents were away on holiday with staff.
The inspector looked at care records, medicines, staff records, health and safety information, and quality checks. The people living at the home had complex disabilities and could not always describe their experiences, so the inspector also relied on observing care and speaking with staff.
The report found enough staff, safe medicines procedures, suitable training and good access to health professionals. Staff knew residents well, respected their choices and supported activities, family contact and flexible daily routines.
The home was rated Good overall, with Good ratings for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The report did not identify any breaches of regulations or enforcement action.
Safe staffing
The inspector found enough staff on duty, with a senior member of staff available to support less experienced colleagues.
“There were adequate numbers of staff to maintain people's safety.” from the report
Staff understood residents
Staff knew residents' needs, preferences and ways of communicating, including when people could not express themselves verbally.
“They knew what people wanted even where the person was unable to express their wishes verbally.” from the report
Personalised routines
Residents could choose when to get up and go to bed, and were supported to take part in activities and maintain relationships.
“Routines in the home were flexible to meet the needs and preferences of people.” from the report
Good oversight
The home used staff supervision, training checks, audits and provider visits to monitor safety and care quality.
“There was a quality assurance programme in place which monitored the quality and safety of the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you currently support each resident's individual communication method, especially if they cannot communicate verbally?
- 02What specialist training do staff currently have for the health and disability needs of residents?
- 03How are medicines currently managed, including medicines given at different times to suit each person's routine?
- 04What activities and opportunities are currently available in the home and local community?
- 05How are relatives involved in reviewing care plans and decisions about their family member's care?
This was an unannounced inspection of the whole service and all five CQC questions, including care records, medicines, staffing, health and safety and quality assurance. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 November 2016 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 28 Southdown Road
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- June 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- November 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 16 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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19 live-in carers within about an hour of East Sussex
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 £1,000 to £1,400 a week. 13 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“When he point blank refused to go into hospital for a life saving blood transfusion she talked him through the situation and agreed to go in the ambulance with him and stayed until he was settled.”
“Una felt safe, secure and loved in her time with Debbie which is a gift that I am eternally grateful for.”
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.