CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at St Catherine's Bungalows
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Requires improvement
- Inspectors were assured about most infection prevention and control arrangements, including testing, cleaning, admissions, visits and outbreak management. They were only somewhat assured about PPE because the policy differed from national guidance for care provided on holiday.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, February 2022
St Catherine's Bungalows was inspected but not rated; infection controls were largely reassuring, although PPE guidance for holiday care needed review.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 28 January 2022. Inspectors looked mainly at infection prevention, visiting arrangements and the effect of COVID-19 staffing pressures.
Inspectors were assured that the home was managing visitors, testing, admissions, social distancing, cleaning, outbreaks and visits in line with the relevant requirements. They also found zoning arrangements and individual COVID-19 risk assessments.
Inspectors found that PPE was being used effectively during the visit. However, the home's policy did not follow national guidance when staff provided care for people on holiday. The provider was signposted to guidance to review its approach.
The home was inspected but not rated. This was not a full inspection of all five areas of care, so the report does not provide an overall quality rating.
Outbreak planning
The home used separate zones to reduce the risk of infection spreading during an outbreak.
“The service had an effective zoning strategy to reduce risk to residents in case of an outbreak.” from the report
Cleaning oversight
Cleaning schedules were in place and inspectors found evidence that they were overseen and followed well.
“Cleaning schedules were in place with evidence of oversight and good compliance.” from the report
Individual risk planning
People who were particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 had individual risk assessments.
“Individual risk assessments were in place for those highly vulnerable to the effects of COVID 19.” from the report
PPE policy
needs fixingAlthough PPE was used effectively during the visit, the written policy did not follow national guidance when staff cared for people on holiday. The provider was asked to review and develop its approach.
“Although the service was using PPE effectively throughout our visit, the policy deviated from national guidance when staff provided care for people on holiday.” from the report
- 01How has the PPE policy been changed for staff providing care when people go on holiday?
- 02How do you check that staff follow the updated PPE policy?
- 03How does the zoning strategy work if there is an infection outbreak?
- 04How are individual COVID-19 risk assessments reviewed for people who are especially vulnerable?
- 05How are visits managed under the current infection control guidance?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 staffing pressures; it did not assess the other four key questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 February 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, September 2019
St Catherine's Bungalows was rated Good overall, but Safe Requires Improvement because some safety plans and records were incomplete.
Inspectors visited on 6 and 9 September 2019. They spoke with people, relatives, care staff and managers. They observed care and checked care plans, medicines records, safety checks, food and drink records, audits and staff training records.
The home was rated Good overall. Inspectors found kind and respectful care, suitable care plans, enough trained staff, good support with food and healthcare, and activities based on people's interests. The home was clean and well maintained.
Safe was rated Requires Improvement. Some people did not have clear skin care and repositioning plans. Staff did not always complete fluid charts, repositioning records or medicine signatures. Fire safety bedroom doors were not linked to the alarm system, although the home said it would fit automatic closing mechanisms.
The home had improved since its previous inspection, when it was rated Requires Improvement and had breached regulations about good governance. Inspectors found that the previous governance problems had been addressed, but said safety improvements still needed to become consistent.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw positive interactions. Staff supported privacy, dignity, independence and everyday choices.
“Improvements had been made by staff to engage with people.” from the report
Personalised support
Staff knew people's routines, preferences and communication methods. Activities were based on what people wanted to do.
“During our inspection visit, individual activities took place based on what people wanted to do and how they wished to spend their time.” from the report
Good nutrition support
The home monitored people's weight and sought professional advice when there were concerns about nutrition or feeding.
“People's weight was monitored, and the registered manager acted on any concerns.” from the report
Improved management checks
The home had strengthened its quality assurance systems since the previous inspection. Checks identified areas needing improvement and actions were taken.
“Improvements had been made in the provider's quality assurance processes and systems.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean, tidy and well presented. Staff had training in preventing infection.
“There was no foul odour in the home and it was clean and well presented.” from the report
Missing skin care plans
needs fixingSome people at risk of sore or damaged skin did not have clear plans explaining the checks needed or how often they should be repositioned.
“People did not have skin integrity care plans to tell staff what checks should be completed and how often a person should be supported to reposition during the day and night-time.” from the report
Incomplete care records
needs fixingFluid intake records were not always completed. Staff also did not always record repositioning or sign medicine records.
“On days when forms were available staff had not always completed details required, which meant staff did not always have the information to refer to.” from the report
Fire door safety
seriousBedroom fire safety doors were not connected to the fire alarm, so they would not close automatically when the alarm was triggered. The home said it would fit closing mechanisms during September 2019.
“These were not linked to the provider's fire alarm system which meant they would not close automatically in the event of the fire alarm been triggered.” from the report
Medicine signatures
needs fixingMedicines were available and administration records were generally accurate, but some staff forgot to sign records after giving medicines or applying creams.
“The registered manager shared their checks with us, they had identified some staff forgot to sign MARS following supporting people with taking their medicine or applying creams to their skin.” from the report
- 01Have skin integrity care plans now been completed for everyone who is at risk of sore or damaged skin?
- 02How do you check that fluid charts, repositioning records and medicine administration signatures are completed every time?
- 03Were the fire safety closing mechanisms fitted to bedroom doors during September 2019, as planned?
- 04What extra training has been provided on skin integrity and fire drills?
- 05What additional checks are being made in the bungalow where records were not consistently completed?
This was a planned inspection covering all five key questions, including the premises and care provided; the previous rating was Requires Improvement. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 September 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 Catherine's Bungalows
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- September 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2018Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 30 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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