CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at St Margarets Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control arrangements were safe. This included visitor procedures, shielding and social distancing, PPE, testing, hygiene, admissions and outbreak management.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Requires improvement
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, November 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured the home had good infection prevention and control measures.
This was an announced inspection on 9 November 2020. It was part of a CQC review of infection prevention and control in care homes during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors found good practice in how visitors were managed, how social isolation was reduced, and how activities were provided. Staff cleaned frequently touched surfaces and used infection control records.
The home had touch-free hand washing facilities, disposable household items and paper towel dispensers. Inspectors were assured that infection risks, PPE, testing, admissions, social distancing and outbreaks were being managed safely.
Managing visits
The home completed individual risk assessments for residents who received visitors. These explained how visits should be managed according to each person's needs and abilities.
“The registered manager had completed service visit risk assessments for all residents who received visitors.” from the report
Reducing isolation
People who stayed in their rooms had social isolation risk assessments. Staff reviewed these and provided activities to help people stay engaged during the pandemic.
“Care staff had taken on the role of providing activities during the pandemic and had thought of creative ways to keep people engaged and active.” from the report
Infection control
Staff cleaned frequently touched surfaces as they moved around the home and recorded some cleaning tasks. The home also had touch-free hand washing facilities and paper towel dispensers.
“An automatic hand washing station had been installed outside the front door of the service with instructions on the screen for safe hand washing.” from the report
PPE and testing
Inspectors were assured that PPE was being used safely and effectively, and that testing was available for residents and staff.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Further development
minorInspectors signposted the home to resources to develop its infection prevention and control approach. The report does not give details of a specific failure.
“We have also signposted the provider to resources to develop their approach.” from the report
- 01How are visitor risk assessments completed and reviewed for each resident?
- 02What arrangements are now in place to prevent people becoming socially isolated if they stay in their rooms?
- 03How do staff record and check cleaning of frequently touched surfaces?
- 04How are PPE and testing provided and monitored for residents and staff?
- 05What changes were made after inspectors signposted resources to develop the infection prevention and control approach?
This was an announced thematic review focused on infection prevention and control; the service was inspected but not rated overall. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 November 2020 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, December 2019
Rated Good overall, but well-led Requires Improvement because safety information and care records were not always accurate or up to date.
This was an unannounced inspection on 25 November 2019. One inspector and a specialist dementia advisor spoke with people, relatives and staff, observed care, and checked care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good for safe, effective, caring and responsive care. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines arrangements, suitable training, access to healthcare, kind and respectful staff, personalised care and activities that helped people stay connected.
The well-led rating was Requires Improvement. Some care plans and fire evacuation plans had not been updated after people's needs changed. The clinical waste bin was unlocked, some policies referred to outdated law, and the home's checks had not always found these problems.
The overall Good rating means the inspection found good care in most areas. It does not mean everything was perfect. The well-led rating shows that management systems needed to improve and that records could not always be relied on to guide staff safely.
Kind and respectful staff
People and relatives described positive relationships with staff. Inspectors saw a calm and friendly atmosphere, with people's dignity and choices respected.
“People using the service and their relatives experienced positive caring relationships with the staff team.” from the report
Enough staff
People said staff were available when needed. Staffing levels were planned around people's needs and staff skills.
“People felt there were sufficient numbers of staff to meet their needs.” from the report
Good support for health
People were supported with nutrition, medicines and healthcare appointments. Referrals to specialist services were made in a timely way.
“People had access to a range of healthcare professionals.” from the report
Personalised activities
The home offered activities linked to people's interests and past lives. Staff also supported people who preferred to spend time in their bedrooms.
“The service had a programme of activities for people to enjoy.” from the report
Good dementia support
Staff received dementia training and used changes to the environment to help people find their way around.
“Specific training had been delivered to staff to help them understand what life was like from the perspective of a person living with dementia.” from the report
Fire evacuation plans
seriousSome personal evacuation plans did not say how people would leave safely in a fire, including what equipment and how many staff would be needed. This could create a safety risk in an emergency.
“These failed to consistently identify the support a person would require to safely evacuate the building in the event of a fire.” from the report
Care records not kept current
needs fixingSome care plans did not reflect changes in people's needs or give enough detail for new or agency staff. Examples included catheter care, diabetes support and a changed diet.
“Following a change in a person's care need, care plans were not consistently updated.” from the report
Unlocked clinical waste bin
seriousThe clinical waste bin was not locked, despite guidance saying such bins should be sealed and lockable. The home's own audit had not spotted this.
“We identified during the inspection that the provider's clinical waste bin was not locked.” from the report
Outdated policies
needs fixingSome policies referred to old legislation and did not reflect best practice guidance. This was part of the wider weakness in management oversight.
“However, the policies referred to out of date legislation and did not reflect best practice guidelines.” from the report
- 01Have all personal evacuation plans been updated to show the equipment and number of staff each person would need in a fire?
- 02How do you make sure care plans are updated promptly when someone's needs change?
- 03What has been done to make sure clinical waste is stored in a locked bin?
- 04Have the outdated policies been reviewed and replaced with current guidance?
- 05How do your audits now check that care records, diabetes guidance and catheter care instructions are complete?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the care provided and the home's premises. This explanation was written from the published report of 20 December 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 Margarets Care Home
3 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- November 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2016Requires improvementSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 25 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
19 live-in carers within about an hour of East Sussex
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 £1,000 to £1,400 a week. 13 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“When he point blank refused to go into hospital for a life saving blood transfusion she talked him through the situation and agreed to go in the ambulance with him and stayed until he was settled.”
“Una felt safe, secure and loved in her time with Debbie which is a gift that I am eternally grateful for.”
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.