CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at St Joseph's Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was managing infection risks, including PPE, testing, visitors, admissions, cleaning and outbreaks. The provider also said it had measures to manage COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not rated in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not rated in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not rated in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Requires improvement
- This question was not rated in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, March 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control and good communication with families during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 23 February 2022. Inspectors gave the home 24 hours' notice. They looked mainly at infection prevention and control, including how the home managed COVID-19 staffing pressures.
Inspectors were assured that the home was using personal protective equipment safely, supporting testing, managing visitors and admissions safely, and keeping its infection control policy up to date. They also found the home visibly clean and hygienic.
Families spoke positively about communication and how COVID-19 risks were managed. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give a full quality rating for the home.
Clean and hygienic home
The home was visibly clean. Cleaning schedules showed that regular cleaning tasks were being completed.
“The home was visibly clean and hygienic.” from the report
Safe infection control
Staff were trained in infection prevention and control and were observed using and disposing of PPE in line with current guidance.
“Staff had received training in infection prevention and control (IPC) and were observed following current guidance in the use and disposal of PPE.” from the report
Communication with families
Managers and staff regularly kept families informed about important changes, particularly those linked to COVID-19.
“Managers and staff regularly communicated with family members to keep them informed of any important changes; particularly in relation to COVID-19.” from the report
Support for understanding COVID-19
The home created easy-read information to help people understand COVID-19, its effects and how to stay safe.
“Easy read reports had been created to help explain COVID-19, it's impact and how to keep people safe, in a way they would understand.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection control arrangements are in place now, and how do they compare with those inspected in February 2022?
- 02How would visits and contact with family be managed if there were another infection outbreak?
- 03How do you manage staffing pressures when staff are absent because of COVID-19?
- 04How do you explain changes such as masks, isolation or visiting rules to my relative?
- 05What full inspection ratings or information are available about caring, effective, responsive and well-led care?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated and the other four questions were not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 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, May 2019
St Joseph's Home was rated Good overall, but inspectors found the home was not always well-led and did not always promote moves to smaller community settings.
Inspectors visited on 1 and 5 April 2019. The first day was unannounced. They observed care, spoke with staff and seven relatives, and reviewed care, medicines, training and management records.
The home was rated Good for safe, effective, caring and responsive care. Inspectors found people were treated kindly and with dignity. Medicines were managed safely, staffing was sufficient, and people were supported with health care, activities and community access.
The well-led rating was Requires Improvement. The home did not always consider whether people with learning disabilities or autism could move to smaller supported living settings in the community. Inspectors made a recommendation about this.
The overall rating improved from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection. The earlier legal breaches had been addressed, including problems with medicines. The home was no longer in breach of legal requirements at this inspection.
Kind, dignified care
Staff supported people in a warm and person-centred way. They respected people's privacy, choices and individuality.
“Interactions between staff and people living at the service were warm and caring.” from the report
Personalised support
Care records included people's routines, preferences and communication needs. Staff used this information to offer meaningful choices and activities.
“The care plan was used to get to know the person rather than just an assessment of their needs.” from the report
Community activities
People were supported to take part in activities and trips that interested them, including events, groups, holidays and local outings.
“The service had good links with the local community and attended as many external events as possible.” from the report
Improved oversight
The home had introduced stronger audits and used incidents to learn and reduce risks. The earlier problems with medicines had not been repeated in the same way.
“It was evident that the service had taken effective action to address the concerns we identified during our last inspection.” from the report
Limited planning for moving on
needs fixingInspectors found the home did not always explore whether people could move to smaller supported living settings in the community. They recommended that the provider update its practice.
“We made a recommendation that the registered provider and registered manager consider current guidance on supporting people to move into community based care settings and take action to update their practice accordingly.” from the report
Some areas felt formal
minorAlthough the building was clean, spacious and easy to navigate, inspectors said some entrance areas felt clinical rather than homely. The manager said signage and accessories would be used to improve this.
“We did note that parts of the service appeared quite formal, each of the three areas of the service had its own office at the entrance which made the environment feel less homely.” from the report
- 01How do you review whether each person could move to a smaller supported living setting in the community?
- 02What action have you taken following the CQC recommendation about community-based care?
- 03How are medicines, thickening agents, PEG records and as-required medicines checked now?
- 04How do you involve relatives and people who cannot communicate verbally in care reviews and decisions?
- 05What changes have you made to make the more formal entrance areas feel more homely?
This was an inspection of the whole service, including the premises, care provided, records, staff arrangements and all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 May 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 Joseph's Home
3 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- May 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- January 2019Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 28 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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38 live-in carers within about an hour of Sefton
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 £1,270 a week. 34 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during the night.”
“It was clear that she genuinely cared and her warm approach really helped put our minds at ease.”
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.