CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at St Bridget's - Care Home Physical Disabilities
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
What inspectors found, July 2019
Rated Outstanding; inspectors found highly personalised care, strong choice and excellent leadership, with safe, effective and caring services rated Good.
This was an unannounced, planned comprehensive inspection on 24 and 25 April 2019. One inspector spoke with people, relatives, staff and healthcare professionals, and reviewed care records, staff files and service documents.
People and relatives spoke very highly of the home. Inspectors found that people had strong control over their care, could communicate in different ways, and were supported to be independent and active in the community. Activities, technology, therapy and end of life care were especially personalised.
The home was rated Outstanding overall. Responsive care and leadership were Outstanding. Safe, Effective and Caring were rated Good, meaning inspectors found consistently good standards in these areas, but not the exceptional evidence needed for an Outstanding rating.
Personal choice and control
People were involved in planning and reviewing their care. Staff knew people's preferences well and supported them to make choices, including choices involving risk.
“People received care and support in a way that was flexible and responsive to their needs and gave them choice and control over every aspect of their care.” from the report
Independence and activities
The home helped people build skills, use technology, go out, work in the charity shop and take part in activities that mattered to them.
“The management team and staff were passionate about enabling people to lead fun, fulfilled lives and helping ensure people had access to activities, therapies and social engagement” from the report
Communication and inclusion
Staff adapted communication to each person, including through sign language, picture boards and computerised aids. The home promoted equality and supported people to express their identity and beliefs.
“People who lived in the home had a number of ways of communicating. People used verbal communication, sign language, picture boards and computerised communication aids.” from the report
End of life care
Inspectors found end of life support was dignified, respectful and tailored to personal wishes. Staff also supported families and helped people remember those who had died.
“The home delivered outstanding end of life care to people.” from the report
Leadership and improvement
The registered manager and provider created an open culture and used audits, feedback and monitoring to improve care. A new medicines system had reduced the potential for errors.
“Quality assurance processes, such as audits, were instrumental in driving standards of care to an outstanding level.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are staffing levels being monitored now, given that the service had previously struggled with staffing numbers?
- 02How does the electronic medicines administration system work in practice, and how are medicines errors checked?
- 03How will you make sure my relative can communicate their choices if they do not use speech?
- 04What activities, therapy and community opportunities could be tailored to my relative's interests and abilities?
- 05How would you support my relative and our family if they needed end of life care?
This was a planned comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, the care provided and the premises. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 July 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. The report was longer than we could read in one go; the later sections may not be reflected.
What inspectors found, October 2016
St Bridget's - Care Home Physical Disabilities was rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, kind care and strong leadership, but activities needed improvement.
Inspectors visited on 19 and 26 July 2016 without giving notice. They observed care, spoke with people living at the home, relatives and staff, and checked care records, medicines, training, staffing, complaints and quality checks.
They found that people were safe. Risk assessments, medicines management, staffing and safeguarding arrangements had improved since the previous inspection. Staff were trained, health needs were monitored and people were supported to eat and drink safely.
People described staff as caring and respectful. Care plans were personalised, and people were involved in decisions about their care. The home was well led, with effective checks to monitor quality and an open culture.
The overall rating was Good, but Responsive was rated Requires Improvement. People and relatives said there was not always enough to do, and inspectors recommended reviewing activities so they better met people's needs and preferences.
Safe care
Risks were assessed and reviewed, including risks linked to falls, eating and choking. Inspectors found that staff had clear information to follow.
“People were protected from risks to their health and wellbeing.” from the report
Caring staff
Staff knew people's preferences and communication needs. They protected privacy and dignity and encouraged people to make their own choices.
“They were treated with kindness and respect; their dignity and privacy were upheld.” from the report
Skilled support
Staff received training, induction and supervision. People had access to health professionals, including occupational therapy, physiotherapy and dietetic support.
“Staff received the training, support and supervision they needed to be able to provide safe and effective care.” from the report
Improved management
The home had quality checks, action plans and a manager who was described as approachable. Inspectors found that concerns from the previous inspection had been addressed.
“The findings of the audits were collated and an action plan was completed.” from the report
Limited activities
needs fixingPeople and relatives said there was not always enough to do. Some activities were not suitable or interesting for everyone, so inspectors recommended a review.
“All the people we spoke with indicated that they would like, "More to do" and, "More activities".” from the report
Snacks and drinks not routinely offered
minorPeople could ask for snacks and drinks, but they were not routinely offered. This could affect people who were unlikely or unable to ask.
“Additional snacks and drink were available; however the onus was on people to ask for them. They were not routinely offered to people.” from the report
- 01What activities are available now for people whose disabilities make practical sessions difficult?
- 02How do you make sure people who do not ask for them are offered snacks and drinks?
- 03What changes have been made to the activities programme since inspectors recommended a review?
- 04How will you make sure my relative's preferred activities and interests are included in their care plan?
- 05How are staffing levels adjusted if people's care needs increase?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five quality areas, with observations, discussions and checks of care, medicines, staffing and management records. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 October 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 St Bridget's - Care Home Physical Disabilities
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Outstanding.
- July 2019Outstandingcurrent ratingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
Read what inspectors found at St Bridget's - Care Home Physical Disabilities →
- October 2016Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at St Bridget's - Care Home Physical Disabilities →
- October 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- September 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 12 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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28 live-in carers within about an hour of West 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 £1,020 to £1,170 a week. 23 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
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.