CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Southlands Place
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, August 2022
Southlands Place was rated Good; inspectors found safe care and stronger management, with minor medicines recording issues fixed during the inspection.
This was an unannounced inspection on 26 and 28 July 2022. Two inspectors spoke with 15 people, three relatives, two health professionals and 14 staff. They observed care and reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff records, rotas and management checks.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, suitable risk assessments, safe medicines administration and good infection control arrangements. People said they felt safe, and staff knew how to recognise and report abuse.
The inspection was prompted partly by concerns about visiting, how concerns were handled and the risk of a closed culture. Inspectors found an open management approach, regular checks and opportunities for people, relatives and staff to give feedback. Some medicines records were incomplete, but these issues were addressed during the visit.
The Safe rating stayed Good. The Well-led rating improved from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection to Good. The report says the previous recommendation about oral hygiene had also been acted on and was monitored daily.
People felt safe
People and relatives told inspectors they felt safe. Staff understood safeguarding and knew how to report concerns.
“People were protected from the risks of abuse, discrimination and avoidable harm by staff who were trained to recognise the potential signs of abuse.” from the report
Enough staff
Staffing levels were based on people's needs and reviewed daily. Inspectors found that staff supported people promptly and according to their preferences.
“There were enough staff to support people safely. Staffing levels were based on people's support needs. These levels were reviewed on a daily basis.” from the report
Safe medicines practice
Inspectors observed trained staff giving medicines safely. Storage temperatures, ordering and 'as required' medicine instructions were checked.
“We observed staff administering medicines safely to people ensuring that they were offered the medicines, given time to take them in the way that they preferred and signed for once they were taken.” from the report
Improved leadership
Management checks were regular and included medicines, care plans, the environment and health and safety. The previous Well-led rating improved to Good.
“At this inspection the rating has changed to Good.” from the report
People were involved
People, relatives and staff had regular chances to give feedback. The home recorded suggestions and showed what action had been taken.
“There was a 'You said, We did' board as well as minutes taken and distributed to people.” from the report
Incomplete medicines records
needs fixingInspectors found opened eye drops without a date or signature and some missing protocols for 'as required' medicines. The home addressed these issues during the inspection.
“For example, opened eye drops without a date or signature, and there were some PRN protocols that were not in place. These were now addressed during the inspection.” from the report
- 01How do you now check that opened eye drops are dated and signed?
- 02How do you make sure every 'as required' medicine has a clear protocol?
- 03How would you involve my relative and our family in decisions about risks, such as falls, bed rails or sensor mats?
- 04How are concerns about visiting handled now, and how are families kept informed?
- 05What are the current ratings or most recent findings for Effective, Caring and Responsive care?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led; the report says ratings for key questions not inspected were carried over from the last inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 August 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, February 2021
Southlands Place was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection-control practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 01 February 2021. It looked only at infection prevention and control because the home was responding to coronavirus outbreaks.
Inspectors found the home clean and well maintained. Cleaning took place regularly, including on high-touch areas. People who were unwell, self-isolating or had tested positive were cared for in their rooms, and the building was divided into zones to reduce infection spread.
Staff had enough personal protective equipment and used it correctly. The home carried out regular testing and temperature checks for people and staff. Visitors were restricted, although people were supported to keep in touch with families by phone and video calls.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not provide an overall rating or full ratings for care, effectiveness, responsiveness or leadership.
Clean environment
The home was clean and well maintained, with regular cleaning of high-touch areas and checks on cleaning standards.
“The home was clean and well maintained. There was regular cleaning throughout the day and this included high-touch areas.” from the report
Personal protective equipment
Staff had adequate supplies of protective equipment, received COVID-19 training and were seen using it correctly.
“Staff were provided with adequate supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) and staff were seen to be wearing this appropriately.” from the report
Testing and monitoring
The home carried out regular COVID-19 testing and health checks for people living there and staff.
“Regular testing for people and staff was taking place. All staff have a weekly polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and daily lateral flow test (LFT).” from the report
Family contact
Although most visitors were not allowed during the inspection, staff helped people keep in touch with families by phone and video calls.
“Staff supported people to remain in contact with their families through phone and video calls.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What are the current visiting arrangements, including for relatives who are not visiting someone receiving palliative or end-of-life care?
- 02How are new admissions tested and supported during any isolation period?
- 03How often are people and staff tested now, and what happens when someone has symptoms or a positive result?
- 04How are people supported to keep in contact with relatives if visits are restricted?
- 05How are activities and time with other residents organised when infection-control measures are needed?
This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control only; the service was inspected but not rated and the report does not provide full ratings for the other areas. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 February 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.
Every inspection of Southlands Place
6 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- August 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
- February 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- April 2019Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2019Requires improvementup from InadequateSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- December 2018Inadequatestayed InadequateSafe: InadequateEffective: InadequateCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: InadequateWell-led: Inadequate
- April 2018Inadequatedown from GoodSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- May 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- January 2016
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 29 January 2016.
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.”
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