CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at St Pauls Care Centre
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from avoidable harm. Inspectors found enough staff, robust recruitment, reviewed risk assessments, safe medicines administration and learning from incidents.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs and preferences were assessed and care was adjusted as needed. Staff were trained and worked with health professionals to support people's health, nutrition and treatment.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect. People were involved in care decisions and encouraged to maintain or regain independence.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Care was highly personalised and responded well to changing needs. People were supported with communication, activities, relationships, personal wishes and end of life care.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Inspectors found open and inclusive leadership, strong feedback systems and effective checks on quality and safety. The provider shared learning and worked closely with other services and professionals.
What inspectors found, May 2020
St Pauls Care Centre was rated Outstanding overall, with safe, effective and caring support rated Good and responsive care and leadership rated Outstanding.
This was an unannounced, planned inspection over three visits in February and March 2020. Inspectors spoke with people, relatives, staff and health professionals. They observed care and reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff files and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective and Caring. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practices, suitable training, clean areas and kind, respectful care. People were involved in decisions, and staff supported their health, nutrition, communication and independence.
Responsive care and Well-led were rated Outstanding. Inspectors found highly personalised care, strong activities and communication support, meaningful involvement in running the home, and effective systems for listening, learning and making improvements.
The overall rating improved from Good at the previous inspection, published in August 2017, to Outstanding. The report does not identify any breaches of regulations or enforcement action.
Personalised care
Staff knew people's likes, dislikes and histories. The home supported people to achieve meaningful goals, including improving mobility and taking part in the running of the home.
“People received extremely high-quality care. Staff were enabled by the provider's systems and processes to provide people with personalised care and support.” from the report
Activities and inclusion
People were encouraged to pursue interests, take on roles and join activities. The home used schemes such as the Resident Wish Scheme and Lifestyle Pioneers to help people feel valued.
“People were happy and involved in the home's day to day life. People told us they were supported to continue to live their life; pursuing their hobbies and interest.” from the report
Communication support
Staff found different ways to help people communicate with others and keep in touch with family. This included computer devices, FaceTime, music and information about people's past lives.
“Staff were focused to find ways to effectively communicate with people and helped people establish effective communication with family members.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
People and relatives praised staff for being caring and respectful. Inspectors observed staff spending time with people, listening to them and supporting their choices.
“People were supported by staff with empathy, respect and kindness.” from the report
Strong leadership
The management team encouraged feedback from people and staff and acted on it. Audits, meetings and partnership work were used to improve care.
“Effective governance systems underpinned the personalised care and support people received.” from the report
Safe medicines
Staff who gave medicines were trained and had their skills checked. Inspectors found that time-critical medicines were given as prescribed and records matched the medicine stock counted.
“People's medicines were administered safely by staff who were trained and had their competency checked regularly.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you make sure there are enough staff for my relative's needs, including when staff are absent?
- 02What additional training and care-plan arrangements are now in place for people with an acquired brain injury?
- 03How will you support my relative's communication needs and help them keep in touch with family?
- 04What activities or meaningful roles could my relative take part in based on their interests and abilities?
- 05How are medicines reviewed, particularly medicines given for mood control or on an 'as and when required' basis?
This was an unannounced, planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the care provided and the home environment. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 May 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.
Every inspection of St Pauls Care Centre
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- May 2020Outstandingcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- February 2019
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 28 February 2019.
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 Hertfordshire
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 £1,300 a week. 82 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“She handled the new situation in front of her with such professionalism and I felt I could trust her 100%.”
“She was v competent and confident and we felt our mum was safe in her care. She supported us through a difficult time.”
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.