CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at St Marys Mount
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People said they felt safe. Inspectors found safeguarding, staffing, medicines, infection control and accident-learning systems were in place, although some risk records were not detailed enough.
- Effective?
- Good
- People received suitable care, food and support with health needs. Staff were trained and worked well with other professionals, but some mental capacity and best-interest records were still being completed.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect. People and relatives said staff communicated well and involved people in decisions about their care.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was adapted to people's needs, interests and choices. Activities were offered daily, complaints were dealt with in a timely way, and end-of-life care was described as compassionate.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had clear leadership, supportive staff and regular quality checks. People, relatives and staff were given opportunities to share views and suggest improvements.
What inspectors found, April 2019
St Marys Mount was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and well-organised care, with some care records not detailed enough.
This was an unannounced inspection on 12 March 2019. The inspection included speaking with people living in the home, visiting families, staff and health professionals. Inspectors observed care and checked care records, medicines records, staff rotas, training, complaints and quality checks.
The overall rating was Good. All five areas were also rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People said they felt safe and were happy with the care. Inspectors found kind staff, enough staff to respond promptly, safe medicines systems, suitable training and good links with health professionals.
There were some weaknesses in record keeping. Risk assessments and care plans did not always contain enough detail, and some mental capacity and best-interest records were still being completed. Inspectors still found that staff understood people's needs and were taking the necessary practical steps to keep people safe.
People felt safe
People and relatives said they felt safe. Staff understood how to report concerns and the home reviewed accidents and incidents for learning.
“People using the service said they felt safe at St Mary's Mount and relatives told us they felt their family members were safe.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw friendly, caring interactions. Staff knew people well and supported their dignity, independence and choices.
“People told us staff were kind and caring in their approach.” from the report
Good staffing and training
Staffing levels had been increased at busier times. Staff received induction and training relevant to the people living in the home.
“Staff received a comprehensive induction, and all staff completed, or were in the process of completing, the care certificate.” from the report
Personalised activities
The home offered daily activities based on people's interests. People could also attend an adjoining day centre or spend time with family.
“A range of activities and entertainments were offered daily, based on people's interests.” from the report
Teamwork and oversight
Staff worked together and felt able to raise concerns. Management used audits, meetings and feedback to identify improvements.
“Care was well organised and people were clear about their individual roles and responsibilities.” from the report
Care plans did not always reflect staff knowledge
needs fixingCare plans contained different levels of detail, and staff knowledge about people's needs and preferences was not always written down.
“These contained a variable amount of detail about the person's needs and preferences, and the knowledge staff had about people was not always reflected in the care plans.” from the report
Some capacity records were unfinished
needs fixingThe home was still completing all the necessary mental capacity assessments and best-interest decisions after advice from the local authority.
“Following a visit and advice from the local authority, staff were in the process of ensuring all the necessary mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions were completed.” from the report
- 01How do you make sure risk assessments clearly record every action needed to keep my relative safe?
- 02How often are care plans updated, and how do you record staff knowledge about a person's preferences and needs?
- 03Have all mental capacity assessments and best-interest decisions now been completed where needed?
- 04How do you adjust staffing levels during the afternoon and early evening, when the report says accidents and incidents were higher?
- 05Which activities would match my relative's interests, and how would you adapt them if their needs changed?
This was an unannounced scheduled inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the premises and the care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 2 April 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 Marys Mount
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2016GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 8 December 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.
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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Staffordshire
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 £1,230 a week. 85 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“We particularly appreciate the companionship Dawn gives in the evenings when she plays cards and Scrabble with my mother.”
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.