CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Sycamores
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People said they felt safe. Inspectors found safe recruitment, safeguarding training, suitable risk assessments and safe medicines systems, but raised the importance of accurate temperature records for medicine storage.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had training, supervision and appraisals, and knew how to communicate with people in their preferred ways. People had access to health professionals, support with meals and relevant mental capacity processes.
- Caring?
- Good
- Inspectors observed respectful, kind care, with staff promoting independence and protecting privacy. People were involved in decisions about their care where possible.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans described people's preferences, needs and choices. People had access to activities inside and outside the home, although care plans were being updated during the inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- There was a clear management structure and staff felt valued and able to raise questions. Audits covered areas including safety, training, care plans and medicines, with evidence that lessons were learned from incidents.
What inspectors found, May 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, personalised care, with a reminder about accurate medicine-storage temperature records.
This was a comprehensive, unannounced inspection on 19 April 2018. Inspectors reviewed records, observed care, spoke with people, relatives and staff, and contacted other organisations.
The home supported seven people with physical disabilities, some of whom also had learning disabilities. Inspectors found people felt safe, staff knew them well, and care was tailored to their needs. People had access to health care, activities and support to stay independent.
All five areas were rated Good: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. The home was rated Good at the previous inspection too, and inspectors found no serious risks or concerns. They did remind the manager about the importance of accurate records of medicine-storage temperatures.
Personalised care
Care records described people's individual needs, preferences and choices. Staff were observed giving caring support and encouraging independence.
“Care records contained clear information covering all aspects of people's individualised care and support and staff had a caring approach to working with the people who used the service.” from the report
Activities and independence
People were supported to take part in activities and go out, including work, holidays, sailing, shopping and arts and crafts.
“People had access to a range of activities in and outside the home.” from the report
Staff knowledge and training
Staff had opportunities for training and development and showed that they knew people well, including how they preferred to communicate.
“Staff had opportunities to update their skills and professional development.” from the report
Open management
Staff and relatives described management as approachable. The home used audits, meetings and reviews to identify improvements and share lessons.
“There was a clear management structure and staff clearly understood their roles and responsibilities.” from the report
Medicine temperature records
minorInspectors found medicines were managed safely but reminded the manager about keeping accurate records of storage temperatures. Ask what has been changed since the inspection.
“We spoke to the registered manager about the importance of accurate record keeping around temperature.” from the report
- 01How are medicine-storage temperatures recorded and checked now?
- 02How far has the review and updating of people's care plans progressed?
- 03How will relatives be involved in the new care plan reviews?
- 04What activities and opportunities to go out would be available for my relative?
- 05How are lessons from accidents and incidents shared with staff and used to reduce future risks?
This was a comprehensive, unannounced inspection covering all five key questions, and all five ratings remained Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 May 2018 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 Sycamores
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- May 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 11 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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92 live-in carers within about an hour of Wakefield
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 £1,260 a week. 79 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Carla has been a god send with the implementation of bringing mum back home from respite care.”
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.