CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at St Marys
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, December 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care across all five areas.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 30 October 2023. Inspectors spoke with 12 people, four relatives and four staff. They reviewed care records, staff files, medicines information and records about how the home was managed.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines arrangements, suitable training and care plans that reflected people's needs and choices.
People were treated kindly and with respect. Inspectors also found good food, activities, support with health needs, involvement in care decisions and systems for handling complaints and learning from incidents.
Enough staff
Inspectors found staff were visible, available and had time to provide care and spend relaxed time with people.
“There were enough staff to meet people's needs. During our inspection, staff were visibly present, providing people with the appropriate care and support they needed.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People described staff as kind and compassionate. Inspectors observed caring interactions and staff respecting privacy.
“People told us they were supported by staff who were kind and compassionate.” from the report
Personalised support
Care records included people's needs, preferences and communication guidance. People were involved in reviews and choices about their care.
“People's care records were written in a person-centred way and included people's specific needs and preferences and guidance for staff in how they were to be met.” from the report
Food and activities
The home offered varied food, support for special diets and activities based on what people wanted to do.
“There were many appropriate activities on offer based upon what people requested to do such as baking, planting bulbs, growing indoor plants.” from the report
Learning and oversight
The home reviewed incidents, complaints and audits. Inspectors found that action was taken when improvements were needed.
“Audits were undertaken which assisted the registered manager to identify shortfalls and address them.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you meet my relative's specific needs if their mobility, falls risk or health needs change?
- 02What support is available for people living with dementia, including help with communication and activities?
- 03How would you support my relative if they need a special diet or help with eating and drinking?
- 04How are relatives involved in care reviews and decisions about end-of-life care?
- 05How would you respond if we had a complaint or concern about the care?
This was an unannounced inspection that looked at the premises and care provided across all five CQC questions; the previous rating was Good and was published on 27 January 2018. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 December 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, January 2018
St Marys was rated Good overall, with kind and safe care and strong family involvement; inspectors noted inconsistent external management support.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 9 and 10 October 2017. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and managers. 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, suitable care plans, good links with health professionals and respectful, kind care.
Families were involved in care decisions and people could choose their meals and activities. The home had systems for complaints, feedback and quality checks. This was the first ratings inspection since the location was registered, so the report does not compare the rating with an earlier inspection.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw warm relationships and staff who knew people's preferences, needs and personal histories. People were supported with dignity and encouraged to remain independent.
“Staff were kind and caring in their approach and relatives were positive about the care people received.” from the report
Safe medicines support
Medicines were stored securely, records were well kept and staff had their skills checked. Any crushing of medicines was agreed with health professionals and families where needed.
“People received safe support with their medicines. Medicines were stored safely and the temperatures of these areas were checked regularly.” from the report
Individual activities and care
Care plans were centred on each person and activities included music, gardening, exercise, faith visits and links with the local community.
“There was a good variety of choices of how people could spend their day.” from the report
Family involvement
Relatives were involved in care reviews and decisions. The home sought views through meetings, feedback and its complaints process.
“All of the relatives we spoke to said that they felt involved in care and decisions and they were made to feel at home.” from the report
Communication and quality checks
Staff and managers used regular meetings and daily communication to share information. Audits and investigations were used to identify and address problems.
“There was a good system of communication amongst staff and between departments.” from the report
Changes in external management support
minorSupport from managers outside the home had not been consistent because there had been many changes. Inspectors still judged the home to be well led and rated this area Good.
“However, the external line management support to this home had not been consistent as there have been many changes.” from the report
- 01How stable are the external line management arrangements now, and who provides support to the home if the local manager needs help?
- 02How do you currently decide whether there are enough staff for the number and needs of people living here?
- 03How would you support my relative if they needed medicines crushed, and how would you involve us in that decision?
- 04Which activities and community visits would be suitable for my relative, including if they live with dementia?
- 05How would you record and follow my relative's wishes about end-of-life care and contact with family?
This was an unannounced ratings inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the care, accommodation and management of the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 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 Marys
2 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- 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
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
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.