CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at St Christopher's Care Home
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control, including PPE, testing, cleaning, hand hygiene, isolation and visiting arrangements. They also asked about COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- This was not covered by the targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- This was not covered by the targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- This was not covered by the targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- This was not covered by the targeted inspection, although infection control leadership and checks were reviewed.
What inspectors found, March 2022
St Christopher's Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good COVID-19 infection controls and safe visiting arrangements.
This was a targeted inspection on 14 February 2022. It looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and whether COVID-19 staffing pressures affected care. The visit was announced one working day in advance.
Inspectors found the home clean, with no bad smells. Staff used protective equipment correctly, handwashing points were stocked, and cleaning was organised and checked. The home had an infection control lead and acted on improvements found through audits.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the report gives evidence about infection control and visiting, but it is not a full assessment of all aspects of care.
Clean environment
Inspectors found the building very clean, with no bad smells. Cleaning routines covered high-touch areas, sinks and bins.
“All areas of the building were very clean, and no malodours were present.” from the report
Good infection control
Staff used PPE correctly, hand hygiene points were available and stocked, and the home had systems for testing and isolation.
“Staff were using personal protective equipment (PPE) in the correct way.” from the report
Regular checks
A named infection control lead oversaw practice and records. Senior staff completed checks and acted on improvements.
“Senior staff completed checks and audits with any improvements picked up and actioned afterwards.” from the report
Safe visiting arrangements
Visitors used routes that reduced the number of rooms and people they passed. Other areas were available for visits.
“The provider used different entrances and exits available in the service so that visitors would come into the service via the door closest to their relatives' rooms.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you managing COVID-19-related staffing pressures now?
- 02How often are cleaning checks and infection control audits completed, and what happens when an improvement is identified?
- 03How would visits be arranged if someone in the home tested positive?
- 04How would a new resident be admitted safely if there was an infection risk?
- 05How do you make sure visiting staff and professionals meet the current vaccination requirements or have an exemption?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 staffing pressures; it was not a full inspection and the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 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, September 2019
Rated Outstanding; inspectors found exceptionally caring, responsive and well-led support, with safe and effective care.
Inspectors visited without notice on 22 and 23 July 2019. They spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and visiting professionals. They observed care, meals and activities, toured the building, and checked care plans, medicines, recruitment and other records.
The home was rated Outstanding overall. Caring, Responsive and Well-led were rated Outstanding. Safe and Effective were rated Good. Inspectors found people were treated with kindness and respect, received personalised support, and were helped to stay connected with their families and community.
The home had enough staff, safe medicines systems, suitable training and systems for responding to risks and incidents. Inspectors found a strong focus on improvement. They did identify some gaps in recruitment evidence, but the home provided evidence after the inspection that these had been corrected.
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives consistently described staff as caring and kind. Inspectors saw staff giving people time, protecting their dignity and supporting their independence.
“People and relatives consistently agreed staff were very caring and kind.” from the report
Personalised support
Staff learned about people's lives, preferences and communication needs. They used this knowledge to support meaningful choices and improve people's wellbeing.
“The management team placed a great importance on ensuring everybody was treated as an individual and received person-centred care.” from the report
End of life care
The home involved people and families in planning end of life care. Inspectors found staff supported comfort, dignity and family involvement during this time.
“The service was committed to providing outstanding end of life care that met people's wishes.” from the report
Activities and community links
People could choose from varied activities and outings, including activities based on their past interests. The home also helped people maintain links with family, faith groups and the local community.
“The service placed a great emphasis on enabling people to live as full a life as possible.” from the report
Improvement and leadership
Inspectors found an open, supportive management culture. The home tested new ideas, listened to feedback and used learning to improve people's comfort and quality of life.
“The service had a particularly strong emphasis on continuous improvement and finding new ways to help people live their life to the full.” from the report
Safe medicines
Medicines were stored securely and given by trained staff. The records checked by inspectors showed no administration errors.
“We reviewed medicine administration record (MAR) charts for the people who use the service and we found no errors.” from the report
Recruitment records
minorInspectors found some missing evidence about staff conduct during recruitment. The issue was raised with the home, which later supplied evidence that it had been corrected.
“We found some information gaps regarding evidence of conduct.” from the report
- 01How do you check recruitment records, including evidence about staff conduct, before people start work?
- 02How would you support my relative's particular interests, routines and communication needs?
- 03How do you involve relatives when care plans or health needs change?
- 04What end of life support would be available to my relative and to our family?
- 05How do you make sure there are enough trained staff on each shift and that medicines are given safely?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, including care, the premises, staffing, medicines, records and how the home was managed. This explanation was written from the published report of 20 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. The report was longer than we could read in one go; the later sections may not be reflected.
Every inspection of St Christopher's Care Home
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- September 2019Outstandingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- November 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- March 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 18 November 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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
81 live-in carers within about an hour of Bracknell Forest
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 £1,300 a week. 74 can care for a couple. 13 years' experience on average.
“I can truly say that Peter always put Dad at the centre of everything and I know that they found a great friendship in difficult times.”
“Without his support we wouldn't have been able to navigate bringing and keeping Dad at home.”
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.