CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Stepping Stones Red Marley
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, January 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with a minor medicines-record issue.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 30 November and 6 December 2017. One inspector spoke with six people, four staff, managers and four health and social care professionals. Records and information about the home were also checked.
The home supported 19 people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities. Inspectors found people were protected from abuse and avoidable risks, received their medicines safely, and had enough suitably checked staff.
Staff were trained and supported. People were treated with dignity, involved in their care, supported to be more independent, and offered care that reflected their preferences, routines and interests. The home had arrangements for complaints and regular quality checks.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. It remained Good after also being rated Good at the previous comprehensive inspection in August 2015.
People felt safe
Staff understood safeguarding and people's individual risks. The home had plans to help manage risks and keep people safe.
“It feels like a safe place to live.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw warm and appropriate interactions. People said staff were kind and polite, and staff respected privacy and dignity.
“We observed staff engaged in appropriate and warm conversation with people and kindly responding to requests for assistance.” from the report
Personalised support
Staff knew people's tastes, routines and needs. People were supported with activities and interests such as gardening, swimming, horse riding and trips out.
“A range of on-site and community-based activities are timetabled and carried out.” from the report
Some medicines were not dated
needs fixingInspectors found some medicines had not been dated when opened, so staff could not see when they would expire. The manager said staff would be reminded that dating medicines was expected practice.
“We found some medicines had not been dated on opening to indicate when they would expire.” from the report
- 01What checks now make sure every medicine is dated when it is opened?
- 02What training in death and dying has been provided since the inspection?
- 03How are my relative's individual risks recorded, reviewed and shared with staff?
- 04How will my relative be involved in care reviews and decisions about their support?
- 05What activities and community opportunities are currently available for residents?
This was an unannounced inspection of the whole care home, including accommodation and care, and all five CQC questions were rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 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.
What inspectors found, April 2017
Stepping Stones Red Marley was rated Good overall; the previous problem with legal safeguards had improved, but one urgent authorisation had expired while a response was awaited.
This was an unannounced inspection on 28 March 2017. One inspector checked documents and spoke with staff and the registered manager. The visit was to check whether a legal breach found in 2015 had been put right.
The earlier concern was that restrictions on people's freedom had not been legally authorised. Inspectors found that applications had since been made for three people. One had been approved. Assessments had also been completed for two others.
The report rates the home Good overall and rates it Good for being effective. This visit focused on that area and did not provide new ratings for safe, caring, responsive or well-led.
Improved legal safeguards
The home had submitted applications for three people whose freedom may have been restricted. One application had been approved.
“At this inspection we found applications had been submitted to deprive three people of their liberty.” from the report
Approved authorisation checked
Inspectors checked the approved authorisation and found no conditions that needed checking.
“We checked this approval and there were no conditions associated with it which we needed to check.” from the report
Previous breach addressed
The report says the earlier failure to use the safeguards correctly had been put right, and people's rights were now protected.
“People using the service had their rights protected by the correct use of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).” from the report
One authorisation had expired
needs fixingAn urgent authorisation for one person had expired, and the home was waiting for a response from the relevant authority. Inspectors discussed contacting the authorities to find out what was happening.
“although one person had an urgent authorisation granted this had expired and a response was awaited from the authority concerned.” from the report
- 01What was the outcome of the urgent authorisation that had expired?
- 02How do you make sure applications for restrictions on people's freedom are submitted and followed up on time?
- 03Which three people had applications submitted, and what safeguards are currently in place for them?
- 04How are assessments of restrictions on people's liberty recorded and reviewed?
- 05What were the findings for safe, caring, responsive and well-led care at the home's previous inspection?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of the effective question, carried out to check a previous breach about legal authorisation; the other question ratings were not reassessed in this report. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 April 2017 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 Stepping Stones Red Marley
3 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2017Goodstayed GoodEffective: Good
- October 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 14 January 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.
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
38 live-in carers within about an hour of Gloucestershire
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 £1,030 to £1,360 a week. 31 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“She was very caring, kind and patient to all his needs, she built up a wondetful rapport with him, she was dedicated and was there for him through good times as well as through the tough times”
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.