CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Summer Wood Residential Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, October 2018
Summer Wood Residential Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with improvements since the previous inspection.
This was an announced comprehensive inspection on 20 September 2018. One inspector spoke with two people living in the home, two staff members and the registered manager. They also observed care and checked care plans, medicines records, recruitment information and other records.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough experienced staff, safe medicines practice, suitable training, good support with food and healthcare, and care that respected people's choices, privacy and independence.
At the previous inspection, the home had three breaches and was rated Requires Improvement in Safe, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that the provider had acted on these issues. Risk assessments, recruitment arrangements and records had improved, and the previous breaches were met.
Safe risk management
Risk assessments and management plans covered areas such as staying away overnight, travelling independently and getting support at night.
“This included people staying out overnight, managing public transport independently, and support for people during the night” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors found a relaxed atmosphere and staff who knew people's histories, preferences and routines. People were supported with dignity and compassion.
“People were treated with care and kindness by respectful and compassionate staff.” from the report
Choice and independence
People could choose how to spend their days, when to get up and go to bed, and whether to go out or join activities.
“People had choice and control over their own lives and were encouraged to be as independent as possible.” from the report
Improved records and systems
The provider corrected earlier problems with care plans, medicine competency records and fire drill records.
“The provider had taken action and the records we reviewed were accurate and up to date.” from the report
Feedback process not yet complete
minorThe provider was still waiting for more responses before completing its full analysis of people's and staff's views. Inspectors said the feedback received so far was positive.
“They were waiting for a few more responses before they completed a full analysis, but said feedback so far had been positive.” from the report
- 01How do you make sure risk assessments remain up to date when someone's needs or plans change?
- 02What checks are completed before a new staff member starts work at the home?
- 03How often are care plans reviewed, and how are people involved in those reviews?
- 04Has the quality feedback process now been completed, and what changes resulted from it?
- 05How would you support someone who stayed away overnight or travelled independently and then needed help?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions; inspectors spoke with two people, two staff and the registered manager, but were unable to speak with relatives. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 October 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, June 2017
Requires Improvement; inspectors found kind and effective care, but there were serious gaps in risk checks, recruitment and record keeping.
Inspectors visited the home without notice on 30 March 2017. They reviewed care plans, risk assessments, staff files, medicines records, training, accidents, audits and policies. They spoke with two people, the manager and one staff member.
People said they were happy and felt safe. Inspectors found a calm home where staff knew people well, treated them kindly and supported their choices. Healthcare, training, supervision and activities were generally good.
However, some safety risks had not been fully assessed. Recruitment checks were incomplete, medicines competency checks were informal, and care and other records were not always accurate or up to date. The home was in breach of three regulations.
The overall rating Requires Improvement. Effective and Caring were rated Good. Safe, Responsive and Well-led were rated Requires Improvement. The provider was required to send CQC an action plan, and CQC said it would check the action was taken.
Kind, personal care
Staff knew people as individuals and communicated in ways they could understand. People were encouraged to make choices about food and activities.
“People were treated with kindness and compassion in their day-to-day care.” from the report
Good staff support
Staff had completed essential training and received regular supervision. They said they felt supported and could speak to the manager easily.
“The training programme and records showed that staff had completed all essential training.” from the report
Healthcare support
People were supported to attend GP, dental, optician and chiropody appointments. Staff arranged specialist healthcare when needed.
“There were good systems in place to ensure people attended a range of healthcare appointments.” from the report
Activities and choice
People helped decide their routines, outings and activities. They took part in arts and crafts, shopping, café visits, shows and theatre trips.
“Between them they decided where they went and what they did.” from the report
Incomplete recruitment checks
seriousSome staff files did not show full employment histories or the required references. Interview responses were not recorded, and CQC found the provider had not checked staff character effectively.
“The provider had not carried out effective checks to ensure staff were of suitable character to work at the home.” from the report
Risk assessment gap
seriousOne person's arrangements for staying away from the home, including their safety and decision-making ability, had not been fully assessed. CQC said this had the potential to leave the person at risk of harm.
“The support systems did not ensure all risks had been identified and mitigated and this had the potential to leave the person at risk of harm.” from the report
Care plans not fully updated
needs fixingA review recorded three health areas that were not included in the person's care plan. This meant staff did not have complete guidance about the person's needs.
“We recommend that the registered provider ensures that when reviews are carried out, care plan documentation is then reviewed and updated to include all changes to people's health needs.” from the report
Weak record monitoring
needs fixingDaily records often gave little detail, and fire drill records did not show which staff took part or how long evacuation took. There was no effective system to check that records were accurate.
“There was a lack of monitoring to ensure record keeping was up to date and accurately reflected the running of the home.” from the report
Medicines competency records
needs fixingStaff had medicines training, but the assessment of their ability to give medicines was informal and not recorded.
“However, this was an informal assessment and there were no records to demonstrate that this had been done.” from the report
- 01What action has been taken to complete and audit all staff employment history and reference checks?
- 02How are risks assessed for people who stay away from the home, including their ability to make safety decisions?
- 03How do you now make sure care plans are updated promptly after health reviews?
- 04How are staff formally assessed and recorded as competent before giving medicines?
- 05What information do fire drill records now include, and has every staff member taken part in a drill?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions and included records, observations and discussions with people and staff. This explanation was written from the published report of 30 June 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 Summer Wood Residential Care Home
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- October 2018Goodcurrent ratingup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Summer Wood Residential Care Home →
- June 2017Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
Read what inspectors found at Summer Wood Residential Care Home →
- March 2015GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 6 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.
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19 live-in carers within about an hour of East Sussex
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 £1,000 to £1,400 a week. 13 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“When he point blank refused to go into hospital for a life saving blood transfusion she talked him through the situation and agreed to go in the ambulance with him and stayed until he was settled.”
“Una felt safe, secure and loved in her time with Debbie which is a gift that I am eternally grateful for.”
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.