CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at St Winnow
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was preventing infections, using PPE safely, supporting testing, and managing social distancing, cleaning and infection risks.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This question was not assessed as a separate question, although inspectors described the registered manager and provider keeping up to date with guidance and supporting staff and people.
What inspectors found, February 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control measures and support for family contact during the pandemic.
This was a targeted inspection on 27 January 2021. It looked only at infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic, and was announced in advance.
Inspectors found a clear visitor checking process, PPE, temperature checks, social distancing arrangements and hand-washing measures. The home was clean, with extra cleaning and regular infection control checks.
People were supported to keep in touch with family and friends by phone and social media. They were also supported with activities, safe community access where possible, and emotional support.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give an overall quality rating or a separate rating for the other four questions.
Visitor infection controls
The home had several measures to reduce the risk of visitors bringing in or spreading infection.
“A clear system was in place to prevent visitors from spreading infection in the service.” from the report
Cleaning and hygiene
Inspectors found extra cleaning, infection control audits and regular checks on staff hand-washing.
“The environment was very clean. Additional cleaning was taking place including frequently touched surfaces.” from the report
Family contact
People were supported to stay in contact with relatives and friends through phone calls and social media.
“People were supported to maintain contact with their family and friends through the use of social- media platforms and regular phone calls.” from the report
Support during restrictions
The home provided activities, safe community access where possible, and extra emotional support during the pandemic.
“Consideration had been given to additional activities to support people's mental- health and well- being.” from the report
Staff preparation
The registered manager kept up to date with government guidance and ensured staff completed infection control training.
“The registered manager ensured all staff had completed training to ensure they knew how to keep people safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01Are the visitor checking, PPE, temperature checks and social distancing arrangements described in the report still in place?
- 02How are cleaning of frequently touched surfaces and hand-washing checks carried out now?
- 03How does the home currently help people keep regular contact with family and friends?
- 04What activities and safe community access are available to support people's mental health and wellbeing?
- 05How are people, staff and visitors tested and supported when infection risks are identified?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control under the Safe question; the service was inspected but not rated and the other questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 February 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 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, and the home's leadership had improved.
This was an unannounced, comprehensive inspection on 1 December 2018. The inspector spoke with people, relatives, staff and health and social care professionals. They also reviewed care plans, medicines, finance records and the home's quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines arrangements, suitable training, personalised care and kind relationships. People were supported to make choices and stay as independent as possible.
The home had improved since the previous inspection in May 2016. Well-led was previously Requires Improvement because the manager was not registered. At this inspection, the manager was registered and the rating had improved to Good. Inspectors found no serious risks or concerns.
Safe staffing and risk support
Inspectors found enough staff, including one-to-one support where needed. Staff understood people's risks and how to keep them safe while supporting independence.
“People, some who required one to one support, had sufficient numbers of staff to support them.” from the report
Safe medicines
Staff had medicines training and competency checks. Instructions were in place for medicines given only when needed.
“People had their medicines managed safely as staff had completed regular training and competency checks were carried out to ensure their skills in relation to medicines were up to date and in line with best practice.” from the report
Kind relationships
Staff were patient and compassionate, and had built strong relationships with the people living in the home.
“People were treated with kindness and compassion by the staff who valued them.” from the report
Personalised communication
Care records explained people's communication needs, preferences and routines. Staff used visual choices, simple questions and sign language where appropriate.
“Staff had received training in how to support people with different communication needs.” from the report
Improved leadership
The home had a registered manager, with monitoring systems for care, safety and quality. This addressed the issue found at the previous inspection.
“The service was now well-led.” from the report
Communication with professionals
minorOne professional said communication was not always good. The manager said they would look at how communication with professionals could be improved.
“However, one professional commented that communication wasn't always the best.” from the report
Making complaints understood
minorThe complaints procedure was available in an easy-read version, but inspectors said some people might still not fully understand it because of their learning disability. Ask how the home makes sure their concerns are heard.
“Not all people currently living in the St Winnow would fully understand the procedure due to the level of their learning disability.” from the report
- 01How do you help people who cannot communicate verbally to show when they are unhappy, distressed or want to complain?
- 02How is one-to-one staffing arranged and reviewed for people who need it?
- 03What changes have you made to improve communication with outside health and social care professionals?
- 04How are care plans and communication methods updated when a person's needs change?
- 05What activities and community opportunities are available for the person I am considering placing here?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering the home and the care provided, with all five CQC question areas assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 January 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 Winnow
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- February 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2016Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 April 2011.
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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9 live-in carers within about an hour of Plymouth
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.
8 can care for a couple. 9 years' experience on average.
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.