CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The New Barn
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Staffing, recruitment, risk management, infection control and medicines were generally safe, although inspectors found a recording error in the controlled drug book.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Requires improvement
- Management was committed to improving the home, but quality monitoring was not always effective. Inspectors found inaccurate or incomplete records, an out-of-date statement of purpose and delayed notifications to CQC.
What inspectors found, December 2023
Rated Good overall; inspectors found safe care and positive relationships, but management and record keeping required improvement.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 03 and 07 November 2023. One inspector spoke with people, relatives and staff, observed care, and checked care plans, medicines, recruitment files and management records.
The home was rated Good overall and Safe remained Good. Inspectors found enough safely recruited staff, safe medicine support, clean surroundings, suitable safeguarding arrangements and support for people to make choices and become more independent.
Well-led changed from Good to Requires Improvement. Inspectors found errors and gaps in records, including care plans, daily notes and a controlled drug count. They recommended better monitoring of records. The home acted during the inspection to update its statement of purpose and submit delayed notifications.
Enough suitable staff
Inspectors found sufficient staff to support people both in the home and in the community. Recruitment checks were in place.
“People were supported by sufficient numbers of staff who had been safely recruited and understood how to recognise and report abuse.” from the report
Safe medicines support
People received medicines as prescribed. Staff had clear guidance for medicines given when needed, although one recording error was found.
“People received their medicine as prescribed and staff had access to guidance to support them in delivering the right care to people.” from the report
Choice and independence
Staff supported people to make choices and encouraged positive risk taking. Inspectors saw that restrictions had been removed and people were being helped to do more for themselves.
“People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests” from the report
Positive relationships
People interacted well with staff and with one another. Relatives said they were kept informed and made welcome when visiting.
“People interacted well with the staff team and those who wished to keep themselves to themselves were respected.” from the report
Inaccurate records
needs fixingInspectors found that daily records did not always accurately describe what people had eaten or how they had been feeling. They recommended a review of record monitoring.
“We found entries in daily records were not always accurate.” from the report
Care plans not always updated
needs fixingOne person's care plan said their weight should be checked monthly, but this was not happening because of equipment problems. The plan had been reviewed without reflecting the change.
“We found some inconsistencies in people's care plans. For example, 1 person's care plan recommended their weight was to be monitored monthly, but this was not happening due to equipment issues.” from the report
Medicine recording error
minorThe controlled drug count did not match the written record, although the correct amount of medicine was present. This was a recording problem rather than a missing medicine.
“We did identify a miscount in the control drugs book. However, we found the correct amount of medicine was present. This was a recording error.” from the report
Delayed notifications
needs fixingA small number of notifications about authorised deprivation of liberty applications had been delayed. The provider submitted them during the first day of the inspection.
“We also found the providers statement of purpose needed updating to reflect the current management team and small number of notifications to CQC for authorised DoLs applications had been delayed.” from the report
- 01What changes have you made to check that daily records accurately describe meals, feelings and any distress?
- 02How will you make sure care plans are updated when equipment or a person's needs change?
- 03What checks are now in place to prevent errors in the controlled drug book?
- 04How do you make sure notifications about authorised deprivation of liberty applications are sent to CQC on time?
- 05What new activities or use of the home's space are being developed for people who do not often leave the building?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the Effective, Caring and Responsive ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection published in 2017. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 December 2023 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 2022
The New Barn was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good COVID-19 safety measures but worn sections on some handrails and bannisters.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 22 February 2022. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and whether COVID-19 staffing pressures affected the home.
The home had safe visitor procedures, including checking vaccination evidence where applicable. Staff and residents were regularly tested, most staff were vaccinated unless exempt, and PPE was plentiful and used correctly.
Inspectors were only somewhat assured about cleaning some frequently touched surfaces. Worn sections on stair bannisters and handrails made effective cleaning harder. The home had identified this and was working with maintenance professionals to address it.
The service was inspected but not rated. This was not a full inspection of all aspects of care.
Visitor safety
Visitors were checked on arrival for proof of vaccination where this applied, and visits were being supported in line with government guidance.
“The provider followed safe procedures when visitors entered the property.” from the report
PPE use
PPE supplies were plentiful and accessible, and staff were observed using PPE properly.
“We saw staff were using PPE appropriately at all times.” from the report
Testing and vaccination
Staff and residents were regularly tested. Staff had received COVID-19 vaccinations unless exempt.
“Staff and people were regularly tested, and staff had received COVID-19 vaccinations unless exempt.” from the report
Up-to-date practice
The provider kept informed about changes to infection control guidance and adapted its procedures.
“The provider kept themselves informed about changes in best practice guidance and adapted their practice accordingly.” from the report
Worn touch points
needs fixingSome stair bannisters and handrails had worn sections. This made effective cleaning more difficult, although the provider had identified the issue and was working with maintenance professionals.
“However, we saw some high frequency touch points, like stair bannisters and handrails had worn sections.” from the report
- 01Have the worn sections on the stair bannisters and handrails now been repaired or replaced?
- 02How are the affected high-frequency touch points being cleaned until the maintenance work is complete?
- 03How will you manage staffing pressures linked to COVID-19?
- 04How do you check that visitors and visiting professionals meet the current vaccination or exemption requirements?
- 05How often are people living in the home and staff tested for COVID-19?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 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.
Every inspection of The New Barn
2 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2017GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2016
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 8 December 2016.
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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