CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Summerson House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicine systems, suitable safeguarding arrangements and a clean, well-maintained home. Staff knew how to respond to risks and abuse.
- Effective?
- Good
- People had detailed assessments and care plans that were reviewed as their needs changed. Staff had extensive training, including positive behaviour support, and helped people access healthcare and eat a balanced diet.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect. People were involved in decisions about their care, and relatives were contacted for their views.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was individualised and people were supported to take part in meaningful activities and use community services. The home was improving its records and communication arrangements.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had strong leadership and regular checks on the quality and safety of care. Inspectors found that feedback, staff training and partnership working had led to improvements.
What inspectors found, February 2020
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with enough staff and strong support for people's independence.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 7 and 13 January 2020. Inspectors reviewed care, medicine and staff records, observed care, spoke with people, relatives, staff and healthcare professionals, and checked how the home was managed.
The home supported six people with learning disabilities. Inspectors found all five areas were Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Staff were described as kind and respectful, and supported people to make choices, take part in meaningful activities and access healthcare.
There had been high staff turnover in the previous year, but the home had recruited enough staff and was no longer using agency staff. Inspectors also noted that some mental capacity records had needed to be put in place immediately during the inspection.
The overall rating remained Good, as it was at the previous inspection published on 26 January 2019. CQC said it would continue monitoring information about the home and could inspect sooner if concerns were received.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors found that staff consistently showed kindness and respected people's equality, diversity and human rights.
“Staff consistently displayed kindness and a caring attitude.” from the report
Positive behaviour support
Staff had been trained in positive behaviour support and used it to reduce distress and improve people's quality of life.
“Staff found this approach greatly reduced individual's distress and enhanced people's quality of life.” from the report
Staffing and training
The home had recruited enough staff after a period of high turnover. Staff received training, supervision and support to develop their skills.
“Following the high turnover of staff last year, the registered manager had recruited enough staff to ensure agency staff were no longer needed” from the report
Meaningful activities
People were supported to take part in flexible activities and access the community in ways that aimed to give their lives meaning.
“People were encouraged to enjoy a wide range of meaningful activities and access to the community.” from the report
Strong management
The provider and registered manager regularly reviewed the service, used feedback and introduced new ways of working.
“The registered manager provided strong leadership and their constant critical review of the service had led to the noticeable and significant improvements.” from the report
Mental capacity records needed updating
needs fixingInspectors found that evidence of capacity assessments and best-interests decisions needed to be in place for some decisions. The registered manager put the documents in place during the inspection.
“The registered manager immediately put these documents in place.” from the report
- 01How have you maintained staffing levels since the inspection, and are agency staff still not needed?
- 02What checks now ensure that capacity assessments and best-interests decisions are recorded for every relevant decision?
- 03How does positive behaviour support work for my relative, and how do you measure whether it reduces distress?
- 04What meaningful activities and community opportunities would be available for my relative?
- 05What progress has been made with the electronic care system, and how will you make sure important care information is not lost?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions and both the premises and the care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 February 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.
What inspectors found, January 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found people were safe and comfortable, but staffing and cleaning checks needed attention.
This was an unannounced, focused inspection on 8 January 2019. One inspector met four people, observed staff, spoke with managers and support workers, and checked care, medicines, staffing, training and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. People appeared comfortable and at home. Staff understood how to manage risks, safeguarding systems were effective, and medicines were handled safely.
The provider had acted after concerns about management and had reviewed the service. Some staff turnover remained, extra overnight cover was being recruited, and cleaning records were not clear. The manager addressed the cleaning checks during the inspection.
Comfortable environment
People appeared settled and comfortable in the home. Staff supported people sensitively to manage risks and distress.
“People looked very comfortable and at home in their surroundings.” from the report
Risk and safeguarding
Staff understood how to protect people from harm and follow risk plans. Safeguarding concerns were investigated and lessons were used to improve practice.
“Staff had worked very closely and sensitively with people to support them manage risk and reduce any distress they experienced.” from the report
Medicines management
Medicines were received, stored, given and disposed of safely. Guidance was available for medicines prescribed only when needed.
“Medicines were safely received, stored, administered and destroyed, for example, where people refused to take them or they were no longer required.” from the report
Management improvement
Senior managers and quality teams reviewed the service after concerns and acted on the shortfalls they found. The provider also checked whether changes were working.
“The provider had accepted their finding and acted immediately to develop action plans and address the shortfalls.” from the report
Staffing stability
needs fixingThere had been high staff turnover, with at least one agency worker used each day. The provider was recruiting to provide additional overnight support and fill vacancies.
“Recently, there had be a high turnover of staff and at least one agency staff worker was used to cover shifts each day.” from the report
Cleaning records
minorIt was not clear what the cleaning schedule was or how completed cleaning was checked. The service manager addressed this immediately and introduced checks.
“The night staff completed the cleaning but it was unclear what the schedule of cleaning was or how staff were assured that they had been completed.” from the report
- 01Has the additional overnight staffing now been recruited, and how many agency workers are currently used?
- 02What has been done to reduce staff turnover and fill the remaining vacancies?
- 03How are cleaning schedules recorded and checked now?
- 04How do managers check that risk plans and policies about people's money are being followed consistently?
- 05What action was taken after the concerns about management, and how is the provider checking that the changes continue to work?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led following concerns about management; the report does not give ratings for Effective, Caring or Responsive. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 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 Summerson House
4 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- February 2020Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2016Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 December 2010.
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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48 live-in carers within about an hour of Gateshead
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 £950 to £1,240 a week. 42 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in the night.”
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