CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at SummerHill
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, February 2022
SummerHill: inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and safe visiting arrangements during the pandemic.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 11 January 2022. Inspectors looked mainly at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and staffing pressures linked to COVID-19.
The home supported six people with learning disabilities. Inspectors found good systems for testing, personal protective equipment, cleaning, social distancing and managing possible outbreaks.
Relatives were supported to visit safely where possible. When visits could not happen, video and telephone calls were used. People continued to receive healthcare, including visits from healthcare professionals.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give a full overall quality rating or ratings for all five areas of care.
Infection control
The home followed infection control guidance and had systems for using protective equipment safely.
“The registered manager had followed guidance on infection control procedures to safely support people living at the service during the pandemic.” from the report
Testing and outbreak response
People and staff were regularly tested. The home acted quickly when positive results were found.
“People and staff had regularly been tested for COVID-19 and where positive results had been returned the registered manager had acted quickly to support people and mitigate risks.” from the report
Visits and communication
The home supported relatives to visit safely where possible and used video and telephone calls when visits could not take place.
“Guidance had been implemented to allow where possible, for relatives to continue to visit people safely.” from the report
Access to healthcare
People continued to receive healthcare. Staff also received extra training to monitor vital signs and share information with the GP.
“People had been supported to continue to access healthcare, this had included visits from the GP and the practice nurse.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What are the home's current arrangements for infection control and visits?
- 02How does the home manage staffing pressures and make sure people receive the support they need?
- 03What are the home's current staffing levels and arrangements for covering absences?
- 04Can you provide information about care quality areas that were not assessed in this inspection?
- 05How does the home currently support people to access healthcare and monitor their vital signs?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it did not provide ratings for the other areas of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 2 February 2022 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 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, and the home remained Good in every area.
The inspection was unannounced on 12 December 2017. One inspector spoke with three people, the registered manager and two care workers. They also reviewed care files, recruitment records, support records, audits and policies.
Inspectors found people were safe and supported by enough trained staff. Medicines were managed safely, risks were assessed, and staff had suitable recruitment checks. People also received support with food, drink, healthcare and decision-making.
Care was described as kind, respectful and focused on independence. People had personalised care plans, regular reviews, activities and support to stay in touch with family and the community. The service had systems to monitor quality and respond to complaints.
The overall rating was Good. All five areas were rated Good, and the report says this was unchanged from the previous inspection.
Safe staffing and recruitment
Inspectors found enough staff to support people and enable them to access the community. Recruitment files showed that appropriate checks had been completed.
“Files contained records of interviews, appropriate references, proof of identity and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well and supported their choices, independence, dignity and relationships with family and friends.
“Staff treated people with dignity and respect and supported them in spending their time in the way they chose.” from the report
Personalised support
Each person had an individual support plan that was reviewed regularly. The service adapted support and equipment when people's needs changed.
“Each person had an allocated key worker and an individual personalised support plan was developed and regularly reviewed with the person to ensure their needs continued to be met.” from the report
Active lives
People were supported to follow their interests, attend day centres and take part in activities in the community. Inspectors saw that people went out every day.
“We saw that people had very active social lives and people went out every day.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The manager used audits, meetings and feedback to review the service and identify improvements.
“The registered manager had a number of quality monitoring systems in place to continually review and improve the quality of the service provided to people.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you assess and update my relative's support plan if their needs changed?
- 02How would you support my relative to communicate their choices and make decisions?
- 03How would you support my relative to take part in activities and access the community?
- 04How do you check that medicines are given safely and on time?
- 05How can families give feedback or make a complaint, and how will it be followed up?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, with an overall rating and ratings for each area. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 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.
Every inspection of SummerHill
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 21 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
51 live-in carers within about an hour of Southend-on-Sea
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 £960 to £1,200 a week. 44 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“She brought fun and stimulation into mums life.”
“She was always cheerful and looking for ways to stimulate my mother. She became her "friend" and provided best care always.”
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.