CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Tablehurst Farm Cottage
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People told inspectors they felt safe. Risks linked to farm and kitchen activities were assessed so people could take part safely, and there were enough staff to support them.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had training and guidance to meet people's health and communication needs. People received support with food, healthcare and decisions about their care.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect. People were involved in care reviews, house meetings and daily tasks.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were detailed and personal to each person. People were supported to maintain relationships, follow interests, communicate their views and take part in farm and community activities.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Managers had a clear vision for the home and staff understood it. Audits, feedback and meetings were used to monitor quality and improve care.
What inspectors found, August 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with people supported to build skills and independence.
This was a planned inspection on 19 July 2019. The inspector spoke with two people and two relatives, and with managers and staff. They reviewed care records, medicine records, staff files and management records.
The home supports up to three people with learning disabilities. Inspectors found that people were safe, treated with respect and involved in decisions about their care. People were supported to work on the farm, take part in activities and develop greater independence.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was the same overall rating as the previous inspection, published in November 2016.
Personalised care
Care plans included people's routines, interests, communication needs and preferred support. Staff knew how to help people when routines changed or they became anxious.
“People's needs, preferences and wishes had been assessed to produce detailed and personalised care plans that instructed staff how to meet these needs.” from the report
Building independence
People were supported to learn new skills and take positive risks. They helped with cooking, household tasks and work on the farm.
“People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors saw staff treating people as valued members of the wider farm community. Relatives also spoke positively about the care.
“People were treated like peers and were very happy to be part of the team.” from the report
Good communication and leadership
Relatives were kept informed and could give feedback. Managers used audits, meetings and incidents to improve the service.
“There were effective quality assurance systems that were used to drive service improvements.” from the report
People not yet involved in recruitment
minorPeople were not currently involved in choosing new staff. The house manager said they would explore involving people in initial interviews and recruitment.
“People were not currently involved in the recruitment of new staff, but the house manager confirmed that they would explore people attending initial interviews with new staff members and being involved in the recruitment process.” from the report
- 01How are people now involved in interviewing or choosing new staff?
- 02How do you assess and review risks when someone takes part in farm or kitchen activities?
- 03How will you support my relative to build independence while keeping them safe?
- 04How do you keep families informed about changes in care, health or daily activities?
- 05How would you support my relative if their routines changed or they became anxious?
The inspection covered the care home, including accommodation and personal care, and assessed all five CQC questions; all five ratings remained Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 August 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.
What inspectors found, November 2016
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some systems still being developed.
This was an unannounced inspection on 13 October 2016. One inspector visited the home, spoke with the three people living there, a relative, staff and the registered manager. The inspector reviewed care plans, staff files, training records, audits, maintenance information and complaints arrangements.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, suitable safeguarding and recruitment arrangements, safe medicine systems, personalised care plans and support for people's health, choices, independence and activities.
People said they felt safe and were treated kindly. Staff understood people's needs and worked as a team. The report also noted that an easy-read complaints document and more robust auditing tools were still being developed, and some policies were being updated.
People felt safe
Inspectors found enough staff and suitable systems for safeguarding, risk management, recruitment and medicines.
“People felt safe and comfortable in the house and staff were clear on their roles and responsibilities to safeguard them.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans reflected people's choices, preferences and goals. People were involved in decisions about their support.
“People had been involved in deciding on the care and support they required and this was documented in people's care plan.” from the report
Independence and activities
People were supported to do daily tasks and take part in activities that interested them, including work and activities on the farm.
“People were supported to participate in activities they enjoyed and that had a positive impact on their quality of life.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Staff knew people well, responded to anxiety patiently and protected privacy and dignity.
“There was a calm, relaxed and positive atmosphere throughout the home which focussed on people's individual needs.” from the report
Easy-read complaints information was not finished
minorThe complaints procedure was in place, but an easy-read version was still being developed for people using the service.
“There was a complaints policy and procedure in place and the provider was in the processes of developing an easy read document which people using the service would benefit from.” from the report
Auditing tools were being strengthened
minorThe home monitored the service, but the report said more robust auditing tools were still being developed.
“The registered manager was in the processes of developing more robust auditing tools which would ensure that there was continuous development within the service.” from the report
Policies were being updated
minorThe policies were described as detailed, but some were still being updated to reflect the most recent guidance.
“The policies and procedures were detailed and were in the process of being updated to provide the most recent guidance to staff.” from the report
- 01Has the easy-read complaints document now been completed and made available to residents?
- 02What changes have been made to the auditing tools since the inspection?
- 03Have all policies and procedures been updated with the most recent guidance?
- 04How would my relative be involved in decisions about their care, daily routine and personal goals?
- 05How would my relative be supported to take part in farm work and other activities safely?
This was an unannounced inspection covering the overall service and all five CQC questions, including Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 November 2016 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 Tablehurst Farm Cottage
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- August 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 10 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.