CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Swiss House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control arrangements were safe. This included PPE, testing, social distancing, hygiene, safe admissions and managing outbreaks.
- Effective?
- Good
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, December 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control during a COVID-19 outbreak.
Inspectors visited on 19 November 2020. This was an announced, targeted inspection focused on infection prevention and control because the home had experienced a COVID-19 outbreak.
Inspectors were assured that the home used personal protective equipment safely, followed social distancing and shielding rules, supported safe admissions, and had suitable cleaning and hygiene arrangements. People and staff were tested weekly, and the report says there had been no new positive results for the previous two weeks.
Families could not visit during the outbreak, but staff helped people keep in touch through video calls. Staff also provided activities such as singing, exercise and socially distanced discos. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home was preventing infection and managing the outbreak safely.
“We were assured the service were following safe infection prevention and control procedures to keep people safe.” from the report
Testing
People and staff were tested weekly. The report says all results were negative for the previous two weeks.
“People and staff were tested weekly for COVID-19.” from the report
Keeping in touch
Although visits were stopped during the outbreak, staff helped people contact relatives by video call and kept families informed.
“Staff supported people to maintain contact with their relatives using video calls.” from the report
Activities
Staff provided activities to support people's wellbeing while restrictions were in place.
“Staff engaged people in activities such as singing hymns, making prayer books, fitness exercises and socially distanced discos to maintain their wellbeing.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visits from relatives managed now, and what happens if there is another infection outbreak?
- 02How often are people and staff tested when there is an infection concern?
- 03How do you make sure staff use protective equipment safely and correctly?
- 04How are social distancing and the number of people in communal areas managed?
- 05What activities and ways of keeping in touch are available for people who cannot receive visitors?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control practices only; it was not a full inspection and the service was not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 December 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, February 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, person-centred care, but work on accessible information was still being completed.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 11 February 2019. One inspector spoke with people living at the home, observed care, spoke with staff and managers, and checked care, medicine, recruitment, training and quality records.
The home supported nine people with learning disabilities or autism, and could accommodate up to ten. Inspectors found people were safe, treated kindly and supported to make choices, build independence, access healthcare and take part in activities they enjoyed.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The previous inspection had rated the home Good overall but Requires Improvement for Well-led. Inspectors found that medicine monitoring and reporting of significant events had improved, so Well-led was rated Good.
Safe medicines support
Staff were trained and competent to support people with medicines. The home checked medicines records, storage and stock levels, and had a process for responding to errors.
“People were safely supported with their medicines by a trained and competent staff team.” from the report
Kind relationships
Inspectors saw compassionate and respectful support. Staff took time to understand people who found it difficult to express their needs.
“We saw people were treated with compassion by a caring and respectful staff team.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were involved in their care and decisions about daily life. Staff helped people build practical skills, including making a drink independently using picture prompts.
“People were supported to develop their independence.” from the report
Personalised activities
Activities were based on individual interests and preferences. Inspectors saw people taking part in arts and crafts and making plans to go out for food.
“People took part in activities that they enjoyed, found interesting and stimulating.” from the report
Improved management systems
The home had improved its monitoring of medicines and its notifications to CQC since the previous inspection. Its Well-led rating improved from Requires Improvement to Good.
“At this inspection we found they had made these improvements and therefore rated the key question well-led 'Good'.” from the report
Accessible information still being implemented
minorThe home understood the accessible information standards, but inspectors said the work to put them fully into practice was still in progress. Ask how information will be adapted for your relative.
“The management team were aware of the Accessible Information Standards, and were in the process of implementing the standards as part of people individual reviews of care.” from the report
Planning for changing needs
minorManagers were considering changes to the property as people got older. Ask what changes have since been made and how the home would support increasing mobility or health needs.
“The registered manager and area manager told us that they were in the process of identifying how they could make changes to the property to address the potential needs of people as they got older.” from the report
- 01What progress has been made in putting the Accessible Information Standards fully into practice for my relative?
- 02What changes have been made to the property to support people as they get older?
- 03How will you check that my relative receives the right medicines at the right time?
- 04How will my relative be involved in reviewing their care plan and choosing activities?
- 05How can my relative or family raise a complaint, and how will it be investigated and answered?
This was an unannounced inspection of the care provided and the premises, covering all five key questions and the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 February 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 Swiss House
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- February 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- November 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 11 November 2014.
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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