CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at St Josephs
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, January 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found people were kept safe and infection controls were effective, but this was not a full inspection.
This was a targeted inspection on 8 December 2020. It followed concerns about safeguarding and staffing, and also checked COVID-19 infection prevention and control.
Inspectors spoke with managers, staff and people living in the home. They checked safeguarding information, staffing rotas, recruitment records, training and infection control. They found enough trained staff, suitable safeguarding systems and no evidence that people were at risk of harm from the concerns investigated.
The home was not given a new overall rating. Its last full rating was Good, published in October 2017. This inspection only looked at specific areas, so it does not show how the home performs in all five areas of care.
Safeguarding knowledge
Staff understood how to recognise abuse and how to report or escalate concerns. Inspectors also found guidance available to support them.
“Staff consistently told us that they had received training in how to safeguard and keep people safe.” from the report
Staffing levels
Inspectors found enough staff to provide care and support. Rotas showed staffing was planned using the home's dependency tool.
“Enough staff were available to provide care and support to people.” from the report
Activities and choice
People were supported to take part in activities and lead a lifestyle of their choosing. The home considered COVID-19 risks when arranging activities.
“We observed that people were able to lead a lifestyle of their choosing because there were sufficient staff to support them.” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors were assured about visitor safety, social distancing, PPE, testing, cleaning, admissions and managing possible outbreaks.
“We were assured that this service met good infection prevention and control guidelines.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are safeguarding concerns currently reported, investigated and escalated?
- 02How do you use the dependency staffing tool to decide how many staff are needed on each shift?
- 03When agency staff are needed, how do you check their training and make sure they do not work elsewhere?
- 04How are visitors, new admissions, testing and PPE managed under the current infection control policy?
- 05When will the next comprehensive inspection take place, and what areas will it assess?
This was a targeted inspection of specific safeguarding, staffing and infection prevention and control concerns; all five areas of care were not assessed and the previous ratings carried over. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 January 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.
What inspectors found, January 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe and responsive care, with one unsafe moving and handling practice addressed during the inspection.
This was an unannounced inspection over 30 October and 22 November 2017. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and health professionals. They also observed care and checked care plans, medicines, recruitment and quality records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines support, good care planning, kind staff and a wide range of activities.
One unsafe way of helping a person stand was seen on the first inspection day. The manager responded by checking staff competence, discussing the issue at handovers and making sure staff understood the correct approach.
The report says this was the first ratings inspection for the provider after it took over registration in February 2017. The home had made improvements, including installing a lift and strengthening care planning, training and quality checks.
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives spoke positively about the staff. Inspectors saw staff taking time to talk with people and supporting their dignity and choices.
“Staff were kind and caring in their approach and relatives were positive about the care people received.” from the report
Safe medicines support
Medicines training and competency checks were in place. Storage, records, stock checks and audits were described as safe and well managed.
“Staff had undergone regular medicine training with their competencies checked. Storage was secure, temperatures checked and stock balances were well managed.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans covered people's individual needs and preferences. Staff reviewed support when people's health or circumstances changed.
“Care plans were person centred and reflected people's individual needs and preferences.” from the report
Activities and community links
People could choose from activities, entertainment, outings and community events. Information was provided in ways that also supported people living with dementia.
“There were activities taking place in the morning and afternoon in both lounges, plus there were lots of instances where staff stopped and sat and chatted with people.” from the report
Open management
The manager and deputy were visible and people said they could speak to them. The home used meetings, feedback and audits to identify and make improvements.
“The registered manager promoted a caring, positive, transparent and inclusive culture within the home.” from the report
Unsafe moving and handling observed
seriousOn the first inspection day, inspectors saw a person being helped to stand in a way that could have harmed the person or staff member. The manager then checked staff competence and shared the learning with staff.
“On 30 October 2017 we saw a member of staff get a person to standing by putting their arm under an arm pit and heaving the person to standing.” from the report
Inconsistent external management support
minorThe report says support from external managers had not been consistent because there had been many changes. The home’s own management team was nevertheless described as working well together.
“However, the line management support to this home had not been consistent as there had been many external manager changes.” from the report
- 01How do you check that all staff use the correct moving and handling techniques, and how often are their competencies reassessed?
- 02How do you decide whether there are enough staff on each shift when residents' needs change?
- 03How would you support my relative if they returned from hospital with new equipment or changed care needs?
- 04What dementia-specific activities, spaces and support are available in Gainsborough?
- 05How would you support my relative and our family if they needed end of life care, including overnight stays for family members?
This was a routine, unannounced inspection covering all five key questions and the overall quality of the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 30 January 2018 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 Josephs
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- January 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2018GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2017
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 6 February 2017.
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
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23 live-in carers within about an hour of Suffolk
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 £1,260 a week. 17 can care for a couple. 7 years' experience on average.
“Not only was she professional, polite and efficient but she bought a lovely smile and laughter to my parents 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.