CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Bungalow
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, March 2020
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, personalised care, but staffing levels had occasionally fallen below the planned minimum.
This was an unannounced inspection by two inspectors on 21 January 2020. They met all four people living in the home, spoke with four staff, checked care and medicine records, and contacted three representatives and local authority staff afterwards.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People were supported to make choices, take part in activities, stay connected with their community and receive care suited to their needs.
There had been several staff vacancies, and minimum staffing levels were not always maintained for a few weeks before the inspection. Agency staff were being used, recruitment was continuing, and the manager had a plan to improve staffing. There was also some damage to the kitchen floor, which was due to be repaired.
Personalised support
Care plans recorded people's needs, goals and preferences. Staff knew people's likes, dislikes and communication styles.
“People's care plans contained detailed information about their needs, goals and preferences and were clearly written to help facilitate person centred support.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People had positive relationships with staff. Their dignity, privacy, choices and independence were consistently promoted.
“People were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.” from the report
Community and activities
People were helped to take part in activities they enjoyed and to remain involved in their local community.
“On the day that we visited the service staff supported each person to access the community individually.” from the report
Staff skills and teamwork
Staff received ongoing training for people's specialist needs and worked with health professionals such as speech and language therapists and GPs.
“Staff received ongoing training and support to ensure they had the skills to meet people's specialist needs.” from the report
Learning and oversight
The manager and staff reviewed incidents, gathered feedback and used audits and meetings to improve care.
“There were effective systems in place to continually monitor and drive improvements.” from the report
Staffing vacancies
needs fixingSeveral vacancies meant minimum staffing levels were not always maintained in the weeks before the inspection. Agency staff were used while recruitment continued.
“There were a number of staff vacancies which had meant that appropriate staffing levels had occasionally not been maintained.” from the report
Kitchen floor damage
minorInspectors found some damage to the kitchen floor. The manager said it would be repaired shortly.
“There was some damage to the kitchen floor which the registered manager assured us was due to be repaired shortly.” from the report
- 01Are the minimum staffing levels now being maintained on every shift?
- 02How many staff vacancies remain, and how often are agency staff currently used?
- 03Has the damaged kitchen floor been repaired?
- 04How will my relative's individual communication style, dietary needs and preferred activities be recorded and supported?
- 05How can residents and families give feedback or raise a concern, and what happens afterwards?
This was an unannounced planned inspection that covered all five CQC questions; all five ratings remained Good from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 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.
What inspectors found, October 2017
The Bungalow rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with all five areas rated Good.
Inspectors visited without notice on 7 September 2017. They observed care, spoke with staff and relatives, and checked care records, medicines, safety records and team meeting notes. Some residents were away, so inspectors could not speak with everyone.
They found enough staff, safe medicines practice and suitable checks for risks, accidents, emergencies and staff recruitment. Staff had the training and support they needed. People were supported with food, healthcare, choices and independence.
Relatives described kind staff and good relationships. Care was tailored to individual needs, with activities, outings and holidays available. The home was managed well, complaints were dealt with positively, and records were well organised.
The overall rating was Good, with Good ratings for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was unchanged from the previous inspection on 25 June 2015.
Enough staff
Staffing was planned around people's needs. Extra staff were added when someone needed more support.
“People were safe because they lived in a well maintained environment with enough staff available to provide the care they needed.” from the report
Kind and consistent care
People were supported by regular staff who knew them well. Relatives described positive relationships and respectful care.
“Relatives told us their family members had positive relationships with the staff who supported them.” from the report
Personalised support
Care was planned around each person's needs and preferences. People were supported to take part in activities, outings and holidays.
“People received care that was tailored to their individual needs.” from the report
Good health support
Staff noticed changes in people's health and sought professional help when needed. Dietary needs were recorded and supported.
“People were supported to eat food they enjoyed and were encouraged to maintain a healthy diet.” from the report
Strong management checks
The manager carried out regular checks covering areas such as medicines, safety, training, incidents and complaints.
“Quality monitoring checks ensured people received safe and effective care and support.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you arrange extra staff if my relative's needs or behaviour changed?
- 02How would you involve me in planning and reviewing my relative's care?
- 03Which activities, outings or holidays could my relative take part in?
- 04How would you support my relative's health needs, dietary restrictions and appointments with healthcare professionals?
- 05How should I raise a concern, and how would you keep me informed about the response?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five rating areas; inspectors observed one resident, spoke with two staff members and three relatives, and could not speak with all residents because some were on holiday. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 October 2017 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 The Bungalow
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2020Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 17 October 2012.
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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77 live-in carers within about an hour of Surrey
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 £980 to £1,250 a week. 66 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Without his support we wouldn't have been able to navigate bringing and keeping Dad at home.”
“Not only has she looked after him beautifully, she has also been great company for him with lively conversation, kindness and humour.”
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.