CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at St Brigas Residential Home For Adults with Learning Disabilities
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about most infection-control arrangements, including protective equipment, testing, hygiene and visiting checks. They found that some clinical bins were not pedal bins and some toilets and bathrooms lacked paper towels.
- 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?
- Requires improvement
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, March 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection-control practice but issues with clinical bins and paper towels.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 8 February 2022. It focused on infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and the effect of COVID-19 staffing pressures. The home was supporting 16 people, although it can support up to 17.
Inspectors found staff had infection-control training and used protective equipment safely. Visitors were checked in line with the guidance in place at the time. People were supported to keep in touch with relatives and people said they felt safe and happy.
Some improvements were needed. Not all clinical waste bins were pedal bins, which could increase the risk of cross infection. Some communal toilets and bathrooms did not have paper hand towels on the inspection day. The paper towels were replaced during the inspection.
The service was inspected but not rated overall. The Safe question was also inspected but not rated. Its previous Good rating for Safe was carried forward because this inspection did not review the whole question.
Contact with relatives
People were supported to stay in touch with loved ones through calls, messages, visits and other arrangements. People and relatives were happy with these arrangements.
“People and relatives were happy with the visiting arrangements in place.” from the report
Regular staff
People were supported by regular staff who knew them well. Staff also described good morale and support from managers.
“People were supported by regular staff who knew them well.” from the report
Visiting checks
The home had checks for visitors and health professionals, including testing, temperature checks and questions about possible exposure to COVID-19.
“Systems were in place to ensure visitors and health care professional visits were undertaken in line with government guidance.” from the report
Clinical waste bins
needs fixingNot all clinical waste bins were pedal-operated. Inspectors said this could expose people and staff to a risk of cross infection when disposing of protective equipment.
“not all clinical bins were pedal bin types.” from the report
Paper towels
needs fixingSome communal bathrooms and toilets did not have paper hand towels available on the inspection day. Staff refilled the supplies during the inspection.
“on the day of our inspection we found not all communal bathrooms and toilets had paper hand towels available for people to use.” from the report
- 01Have all clinical waste bins now been replaced with pedal-operated bins?
- 02How do you check that every communal bathroom and toilet has paper hand towels throughout the day?
- 03What staffing pressures were present during the inspection, and are there any continuing effects on people's care?
- 04How are visiting checks and arrangements being managed now?
- 05How do you monitor that infection-control training and protective equipment use remain up to date?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 staffing pressures; the Safe rating was not reviewed in full and the other question ratings were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 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, November 2019
St Brigas Residential Home For Adults with Learning Dissabilities was rated Good overall, but inspectors found weaknesses in medicines checks and management oversight.
Inspectors visited on 8 and 10 October 2019. The first day was unannounced. They spoke with people, relatives and staff, and checked care plans, medicines, recruitment records and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring and Responsive. People were described as safe and well cared for. Staff supported choice, independence, health needs, relationships and activities.
Well-led was rated Requires Improvement. Most earlier problems had been improved, including radiator safety and hand-washing facilities. However, some medicines checks and other quality checks had not found remaining problems.
The overall rating improved from Requires Improvement to Good. The home was no longer in breach of regulations at this inspection.
Kind and respectful care
People were treated with kindness and respect. Staff promoted privacy, dignity, choice and independence.
“People were supported by staff who respected people's privacy and who promoted their independence and dignity.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's likes, dislikes, routines, interests and health needs. Staff knew people well.
“People's care plans were personalised and individual.” from the report
Health and nutrition
People could access health professionals and received annual health checks. Staff understood specialist diets and people were offered meal choices.
“People had access to health care professionals such as GP's, nurses, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and dentists.” from the report
Activities and relationships
People were supported to stay connected with family and the local community. They could take part in activities, day trips and hobbies.
“People were supported to develop and maintain relationships. People were part of the local community visiting shops, coffee mornings and other social calendar activities.” from the report
Medicines guidance and checks
needs fixingGuidance was missing for applying one person's topical cream. A risk assessment was also missing for a flammable topical cream. The medicines audit had not identified these issues.
“The audit had also failed to identify there was no guidance in place for topical creams and their administration and where a risk assessment was required for one person whose topical cream was flammable.” from the report
Recruitment check
seriousOne staff member had not received a satisfactory DBS check before working a shadowing shift. Inspectors said this could place people at risk.
“However, one member of staff hadn't received a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) prior to working a shadowing shift within the service.” from the report
Management oversight
needs fixingThe home's checks had not found all safety and medicines problems. One radiator was still uncovered during the inspection, although the provider later confirmed it had been covered.
“Although some improvements were still required to the medicines audit, medicines policy and the monthly reports being sent.” from the report
Conflicting care information
minorOne person's care plan contained old information that differed from their health action plan about a modified diet. Inspectors raised this with the manager.
“One person however had old information within their care plan that was different to their modified information within their health action plan.” from the report
- 01How do you make sure topical creams have clear instructions about where and how often they should be applied?
- 02How do you assess and manage the fire risk from flammable creams?
- 03How do you ensure DBS checks are satisfactory before new staff work with residents, including on shadowing shifts?
- 04How do your audits identify problems with medicines records and other safety checks?
- 05How do you make sure care plans and health action plans always contain matching information about specialist diets?
This was a planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, following the home's previous Requires Improvement rating and two earlier breaches. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 November 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.
Every inspection of St Brigas Residential Home For Adults with Learning Disabilities
5 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at St Brigas Residential Home For Adults with Learning Disabilities →
- November 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
Read what inspectors found at St Brigas Residential Home For Adults with Learning Disabilities →
- October 2018Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- February 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 6 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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23 live-in carers within about an hour of North Somerset
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 £1,050 to £1,320 a week. 19 can care for a couple. 12 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.