CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Sycamore Care Centre - Boldon
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People felt safe. Inspectors found that risks, medicines, staffing, recruitment, accidents and infection control were managed appropriately.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs and choices were assessed and reviewed. Staff received training and supervision, and people were supported with food, drink and access to health professionals.
- Caring?
- Good
- People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff involved people and their relatives in care decisions and promoted independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's needs, wishes and communication methods. People had activities, support to maintain relationships and a complaints process that was used appropriately.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home was well managed, with quality checks, feedback from people and relatives, and timely communication about changes. Leaders worked with health professionals and reported significant events appropriately.
What inspectors found, March 2022
Rated Good in all five areas; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care with strong management.
The inspection took place on 15 December 2021. One inspector and an Expert by Experience spoke with people, relatives and staff. They observed care, checked the premises and reviewed care, medicines, recruitment and quality records.
Inspectors found that people felt safe and were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff managed risks, medicines and infection control safely. People received personalised care, suitable food and support from health professionals. They could take part in activities and raise concerns.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was the first inspection of the newly registered service. The previous provider had been rated Requires Improvement in 2018.
Kind and compassionate staff
People and relatives spoke very positively about the staff. Inspectors found that staff treated people warmly and respectfully.
“People and relatives spoke very highly of the staff and said they were kind, patient and compassionate.” from the report
Safe care
Risks, accidents, medicines, staffing and recruitment were managed safely. Infection control arrangements, including those relating to COVID-19, were also in place.
“Staff assessed and managed risks to people's health, safety and wellbeing effectively.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans explained how people wanted to be supported and were reviewed as needs changed. Communication needs and personal choices were recorded.
“People received person-centred care which met their needs.” from the report
Activities and relationships
People took part in a range of activities and were supported to maintain relationships and follow their interests.
“People enjoyed and took part in a wide range of activities in the home.” from the report
Good management
The provider used audits, surveys, meetings and reviews to monitor the service and gather views from people, relatives and staff.
“The provider had an effective quality assurance process in place which included regular audits.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess and review my relative's specific risks and care needs after they move in?
- 02How do you make sure there are enough staff at all times for the people currently living here?
- 03How will you support my relative's communication needs, including any need for easy-read, large-print or translated information?
- 04What activities would be suitable for my relative, and how do you tailor one-to-one activities to their interests?
- 05What progress has the home made towards Gold Standards Framework accreditation for end of life care?
This was a planned inspection of the care home covering premises and care, all five CQC questions, and infection prevention and COVID-19 vaccination requirements. This explanation was written from the published report of 30 March 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, March 2021
Sycamore Care Centre - Boldon had a targeted inspection and was not rated; inspectors found good infection control arrangements.
Inspectors visited on 23 February 2021. The visit was announced and focused on infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
They found suitable arrangements for visitors, including personal protective equipment, hand hygiene and social distancing. The home was very clean, with extra cleaning of frequently touched surfaces, and staff had relevant infection control training.
The provider was following national guidance for new admissions and was helping people keep in touch with relatives by telephone, video calls and safe visits. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Visitor infection controls
Visitors had to use suitable protective equipment and follow hand hygiene measures. The home also had clear signs explaining PPE and handwashing.
“Appropriate measures were in place at the entrance and inside the home to prevent visitors from spreading infection.” from the report
Clean environment
The home was very clean and extra cleaning was carried out on frequently touched surfaces.
“The environment was very clean, with enhanced cleaning taking place of frequently touched surfaces.” from the report
Safe admissions
The provider was following national guidance for people moving into the home and admissions were carried out safely.
“The provider was following national guidance for anyone moving into the home and admissions were carried out safely.” from the report
Family contact
People could stay in touch with relatives through telephone and video calls. The provider had also developed ways to support visits safely.
“People were supported to keep in touch with their family members via video or telephone calls.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visitors currently asked to use PPE and hand hygiene when they enter the home?
- 02How often are frequently touched surfaces cleaned, and how is this checked?
- 03How are new admissions tested and supported under the current infection control arrangements?
- 04How can residents keep in touch with family members, including through visits, telephone calls and video calls?
- 05How do you identify and manage any infection outbreak?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; the service was inspected but not rated and the wider areas of care were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 March 2021 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 Sycamore Care Centre - Boldon
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- March 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Sycamore Care Centre - Boldon →
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Sycamore Care Centre - Boldon →
- September 2018Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- December 2017Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- November 2019
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 November 2019.
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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39 live-in carers within about an hour of South Tyneside
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 £1,140 a week. 34 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.”
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.