CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at St Clair House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People told inspectors they felt safe. Risk assessments were detailed and up to date, staff were safely recruited, staffing levels were sufficient and medicines were managed safely.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed and reviewed, and staff worked with health professionals. Staff had training, supervision and competency checks, and supported people to make choices in line with the Mental Capacity Act.
- Caring?
- Good
- Inspectors observed kind and respectful interactions. People were involved in daily decisions, and staff supported their privacy, dignity, independence and personal preferences.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans recorded people's needs and preferences and were reviewed monthly or when needs changed. People could choose activities, routines and where they spent their time.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The management team had effective systems for checking care quality and responding to concerns. Staff felt supported, and managers worked with families and health and social care professionals.
What inspectors found, February 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with effective management and support for people's health needs.
Inspectors visited on 28 January and 1 February 2023. They spoke with people living in the home, visitors, staff and managers. They also reviewed care records, medicines records, recruitment files, training records and management checks.
The home supported 23 people, including some people living with dementia, and could care for up to 25 people. Inspectors found people were safe, risks were assessed, medicines were managed safely and there were enough staff to meet people's needs.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This means inspectors found people's needs were met and the home was providing a good standard of care at the time of the inspection.
Enough staff
Inspectors found there were enough staff on duty and saw staff respond to requests for help. Recruitment checks were also completed before staff started work.
“There were sufficient numbers of staff employed and on duty to meet people's assessed needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff treated people with compassion and respect. Inspectors saw staff give reassurance and support people in a dignified way.
“Throughout the inspection, we observed positive interactions between staff and people using the service.” from the report
Personal choice
People had control over their daily routines and were involved in decisions about their care. Staff supported people to remain as independent as possible.
“People were involved in day to day decisions and had control over their daily routines.” from the report
Good health support
Staff made timely referrals to health professionals and updated care records when advice was given. People's health needs were monitored.
“People's health conditions were well managed, and staff engaged with external healthcare professionals including occupational therapists, physiotherapists and dementia liaison nurse.” from the report
Strong oversight
Managers used audits and other checks to monitor the quality of care. Staff said they felt supported and could raise concerns.
“The systems in place to monitor the quality of care within the service were effective.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How far has the move from paper care plans to electronic care plans now been completed?
- 02Can relatives access the electronic care plan, and how is their access controlled?
- 03How are staffing gaps covered, and how do you check this does not affect people's care?
- 04What activities are available for people who prefer one-to-one time or staying in their rooms?
- 05How will families be kept informed if there is a change in their relative's health or care needs?
This was an announced first inspection of the newly registered service and covered all five CQC areas, including infection prevention and control under Safe. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 February 2023 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, May 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about the home's infection prevention and control measures.
This was a targeted inspection on 21 January 2021. It looked at how the home was prepared to prevent and control COVID-19 infections. The visit was announced.
Inspectors found the home was clean and had suitable infection control procedures. They were assured that visitors, new admissions, residents and staff were protected through measures including PPE, testing, social distancing and updated policies.
The home had a temporary garden building for safer visits, and staff helped residents keep in touch with family and friends by phone and video calls. Staff also supported people who stayed in their rooms and continued activities safely.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the visit did not give a quality rating for the home or a rated judgement across the five questions.
Clean and prepared environment
Inspectors found the home clean, with procedures to reduce infection risks. There were also signs, sanitiser and arrangements to support social distancing.
“The service was clean throughout. There were appropriate procedures to ensure infection control risks were minimised.” from the report
Safer family visits
The home created a temporary garden building with a sealed divider so residents could meet visitors while reducing infection risks. Staff also supported phone and video calls.
“The building had a sealed Perspex divider with two separate entry points.” from the report
Staff infection control arrangements
The home had a separate staff access and changing area. Staff clothing and shoes could be stored separately, and uniforms were washed on site.
“The changing area included individual storage space for staff clothes and shoes.” from the report
Regular communication
The manager regularly communicated with residents, staff and families about safety procedures and precautions.
“The registered manager was communicating with people, staff and family members regularly to make sure everyone understood procedures and precautions being taken” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection prevention and control arrangements are in place now?
- 02How are visits arranged, and what PPE or other precautions are currently required?
- 03How do you test residents and staff for infections?
- 04How do you support residents who stay in their rooms or cannot safely use communal areas?
- 05What is the home's most recent full CQC rating and inspection report?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic; it did not rate the other four questions or provide an overall quality rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 May 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 St Clair House
3 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 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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10 live-in carers within about two hours of Cornwall
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 £980 to £1,200 a week. 8 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“He had been a little anxious before she arrived, but has since stated that he would be very happy for her to care for him again”
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.