CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Briars
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was preventing infections, using personal protective equipment safely, testing people and staff, and managing admissions and outbreaks.
- Effective?
- Good
- This was not assessed in the targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This was not assessed in the targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- This was not assessed in the targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This was not assessed in the targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, April 2021
The Briars was inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control during the targeted COVID-19 inspection.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 30 March 2021. It focused only on infection prevention and control because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors found that visitors were screened and tested, staff and residents were regularly tested, and personal protective equipment was used safely. The home was clean, with detailed cleaning records and regular cleaning of frequently touched surfaces.
The home supported people to keep in touch with relatives through visits, phone and video calls. Staff also provided activities and one-to-one support to reduce social isolation.
The service was not given an overall quality rating. The Safe question was also recorded as inspected but not rated, so this report does not provide ratings for the other areas of care.
Visitor safety
Visitors were screened, given tests before entry and provided with personal protective equipment and guidance on using it safely.
“Staff undertook screening of all visitors, including temperature checks and a questionnaire to determine any risks posed by visitors.” from the report
Regular testing
People living in the home and staff were regularly tested for COVID-19. The manager understood what action to take after a positive result.
“People and staff were regularly tested for COVID-19.” from the report
Support with isolation
The activities coordinator provided one-to-one support for people isolating in their rooms and arranged activities linked to people's interests.
“The activities coordinator provided one to one support to people who were isolating in their rooms” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection control arrangements are in place now, and how are visitors screened and tested?
- 02How often are staff and residents tested now, and what happens if someone tests positive?
- 03How will visits with relatives be supported, including visits for people who find social distancing difficult?
- 04What activities and one-to-one support are available for people who need to isolate?
- 05Can we see the home's current ratings or evidence about care quality, staffing, medicines and safeguarding, as these areas were not assessed in this inspection?
This was an announced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control only; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 April 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.
What inspectors found, March 2020
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and highly responsive care, with some best-interest decisions not fully recorded.
This was an unannounced inspection on 24 and 30 January 2020. Inspectors spoke with people, relatives, staff and health professionals. They reviewed care, medicines, recruitment and management records, and observed care.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe, Effective, Caring and Well-led were rated Good. Responsive was rated Outstanding because care was highly personalised, activities were varied and staff understood people's individual histories, communication and dementia needs.
People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, suitable medicines systems, detailed care plans and good links with health professionals. One shortfall was found because records did not always show when best-interest decisions had been made. The management team acted immediately.
The previous overall rating was Outstanding, published in July 2017. Caring changed from Outstanding to Good, while Responsive remained Outstanding and the other areas remained Good.
Personalised care
Care plans contained detailed information about people's histories, preferences, communication and daily routines. Staff used this information to offer meaningful choices and individual support.
“People received exceptionally person-centred care and support, which was specific to their individual needs and preferences.” from the report
Dementia support
Staff showed a strong understanding of dementia and used creative approaches to reduce anxiety and help people live rewarding lives.
“The service provided an exceptional standard of dementia care and staff demonstrated a passion and commitment to supporting people living with this condition.” from the report
Activities and relationships
People could take part in varied activities and outings suited to their interests. Staff also helped people keep in touch with family, friends and the local community.
“Staff were passionate about supporting people to access social activities and events which were innovative and followed best practice guidance.” from the report
Safety and staffing
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs, safe recruitment checks and appropriate systems for safeguarding, risk management and medicines.
“There were enough staff available to support people safely.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well and supported their dignity, privacy, independence, choices and emotional needs.
“People were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff we spoke with had a genuine affection for the people they cared for.” from the report
Best-interest records
needs fixingRecords did not always show when best-interest decisions had been made for people who could not make particular decisions themselves. The management team took immediate action to improve the records.
“However, records did not always demonstrate where best interest decisions had been made for people.” from the report
- 01How do you now record and review best-interest decisions?
- 02Who is currently managing the home, and when do you expect a new registered manager to be in post?
- 03How will you tailor activities and outings to my relative's history, interests and communication needs?
- 04How do you involve relatives when care plans are reviewed or people's needs change?
- 05How do you make sure staffing levels and the staff skill mix remain suitable on every shift?
This was a planned, unannounced inspection covering all five CQC areas, including the premises and care provided; all five ratings were reviewed. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 March 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. The report was longer than we could read in one go; the later sections may not be reflected.
Every inspection of The Briars
4 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2020Gooddown from OutstandingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- July 2017Outstandingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- June 2015Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: OutstandingResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 7 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.
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
84 live-in carers within about two hours of Isle of Wight
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 £1,010 to £1,230 a week. 68 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“I cannot recommend Prisca highly enough, she is one in a million.”
“He stayed with her throughout the pandemic, refusing to visit his own family, who lived nearby, to reduce the risk of infection.”
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.