CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Southernwood
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed, including visitor controls, testing, PPE, safe admissions, shielding and social distancing.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, January 2021
Southernwood was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control during a coronavirus outbreak.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 11 December 2020. Inspectors checked infection prevention and control because the home had experienced a coronavirus outbreak.
Inspectors found good practice. The home had hand sanitising, visitor health checks, temperature checks and contact tracing. PPE was available, and staff had training in preventing and controlling infection.
The home was assured in all the infection control areas checked, including testing, safe admissions, PPE use, shielding and social distancing. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Infection control at the entrance
People entering the home could clean their hands. The home also completed contact tracing and health declarations and checked temperatures.
“A sanitising station had been set up inside the front door so that hands could be cleaned before people entered the building.” from the report
PPE and staff training
PPE was available throughout the home, including near bedrooms. Staff had training in how to use PPE safely.
“Staff had received training on infection prevention and control.” from the report
Managing the outbreak
Inspectors said the home had managed its coronavirus outbreak effectively. Families were supported to keep in contact using technology and telephone calls when visits were restricted.
“The home had effectively managed an outbreak of Covid-19.” from the report
Testing and external advice
Staff and residents were tested. The home also worked with public health bodies, the local authority and GP surgeries.
“The home liaised with appropriate external bodies for advice and guidance, such as Public Health England and the local authority.” from the report
Further development identified
minorInspectors signposted the provider to resources to develop its infection prevention and control approach. The report does not describe this as a breach.
“We have also signposted the provider to resources to develop their approach.” from the report
- 01What infection prevention and control changes have been made since the inspection?
- 02How are visits, contact tracing and health declarations managed now?
- 03How often are residents and staff tested, and what happens if someone tests positive?
- 04How is contact with families supported when in-person visits are restricted?
- 05What resources or improvements did the home act on after inspectors signposted them?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during a coronavirus outbreak; the report does not assess the other four questions or give an overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 January 2021 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, March 2020
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with all five areas rated Good.
Inspectors visited unannounced on 13 and 15 January 2020. They spoke with the manager, staff and relatives, observed care and lunchtime, and checked care plans, medicines, recruitment and other records. They could not speak directly with residents because of their complex communication needs.
The home supported five people with learning disabilities and/or autism. Inspectors found clear risk assessments, safe medicines arrangements, suitable staff training and kind interactions. People were supported to make choices, stay involved in their communities and develop independence.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The overall rating was Good. The previous overall rating was also Good, published in May 2017, while the Safe rating had improved from Requires Improvement to Good.
Kind relationships
Inspectors observed positive interactions, and relatives spoke highly of the staff's relationships with the people they supported.
“We observed kind and caring interactions between staff and people they were supporting.” from the report
Personalised support
Support was adapted to individual communication methods, preferences, disabilities, diets and changing health needs.
“Care plans were developed with people and ensured their preferences and diverse needs were met” from the report
Safe medicines
Medicines were stored securely and given as prescribed. New checks had been introduced to identify stock problems quickly.
“The provider had introduced an auditing system since our last inspection this ensured any stock discrepancies could be identified and acted upon swiftly.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were supported to make everyday choices, remain involved in their communities and gain new skills.
“People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.” from the report
Community links
People took part in activities, visited day centres and went on shopping trips and other community outings.
“People were supported to access the community for shopping trips and other events.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you communicate with my relative in the way described in their care plan?
- 02How do you check medicines stocks and records, particularly after a medicine is changed?
- 03How will you support my relative's specific dietary, swallowing or health needs?
- 04What activities, day-centre visits and community trips could my relative take part in?
- 05How will my family be involved in reviews and in raising any concerns?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the premises and the care provided; inspectors could not speak directly with residents because of their complex communication needs. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 March 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.
Every inspection of Southernwood
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2014GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2014
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.
- March 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 2 March 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 Buckinghamshire
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Most charge £1,020 to £1,300 a week. 79 can care for a couple. 13 years' experience on average.
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