CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Trinity House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practice, suitable safeguarding systems and regular checks of risks and the environment. Some repairs and replacements were still being managed through an environmental action plan.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had suitable training and support, worked with health professionals and understood people's nutritional and healthcare needs. People were supported to make choices and to receive care in the least restrictive way.
- Caring?
- Good
- People were treated with dignity and respect. Inspectors saw a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, and relatives described staff as kind, caring and understanding.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Support was highly individualised and had improved people's quality of life. People were helped to take part in activities, voluntary work and everyday tasks, with communication needs clearly recorded and supported.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found positive leadership, approachable managers and systems to monitor quality and safety. The service acted on shortfalls and involved people, relatives and staff in giving feedback.
What inspectors found, January 2020
Rated Good overall, with Outstanding person-centred support and activities, while some building improvements were still underway.
Inspectors visited the home on 20 and 21 November 2019. They observed care, spoke with people, relatives and staff, and checked care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe, Effective, Caring and Well-led were rated Good. Responsive was rated Outstanding. Inspectors found kind care, enough staff, safe medicines practice and strong support for people's choices, independence and community activities.
Inspectors found that people's quality of life had improved significantly. Staff understood people's complex needs and used person-centred support to reduce distressing incidents and help people take part in activities, voluntary work and everyday tasks.
The previous inspection rating was Good, published on 7 April 2017. Responsive improved from Good to Outstanding. An environmental action plan was underway, and one staff member's DBS record was not available during the visit, although it was provided afterwards.
Individual support
Staff understood people's specific needs and used positive support strategies. Inspectors found that this had significantly improved people's quality of life and reduced distressing incidents.
“People's quality of life had improved significantly due to the exceptionally responsive and person-centred support they received.” from the report
Activities and independence
People were supported to join in activities, use local services, develop daily living skills and take on voluntary work. Staff did not treat complex needs as a reason to exclude people.
“Staff did not view the complex needs of the people they supported as a barrier to them participating in similar activities to those of their peers.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People appeared relaxed with staff and were treated with dignity. Relatives described staff as kind, caring and understanding.
“The atmosphere at the home was relaxed and friendly. There was a positive rapport between people and staff.” from the report
Safety and staffing
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs, safe medicines management and staff who understood safeguarding responsibilities.
“There were enough staff to meet people's needs and keep them safe.” from the report
Communication support
Staff knew how people communicated and gave them time and support to express themselves. Information was provided in different formats when needed.
“People were given the time and support needed to express themselves.” from the report
Repairs and wear
minorThe home was maintained to a reasonable standard, but some areas needed repair or replacement. An environmental action plan and refurbishment plans were still in progress.
“An environmental action plan was underway to improve areas of the service which needed repairing or replacing due to wear and tear.” from the report
Recruitment record unavailable during visit
minorInspectors could not see the DBS record for one staff member during the inspection. The manager sent the information afterwards, and inspectors were reassured that the appropriate checks had been completed.
“However, we were unable to view records relating to one staff member's DBS check during the inspection.” from the report
- 01What repairs or replacements from the environmental action plan have been completed since the inspection?
- 02How would you support my relative's particular communication needs, and what easy-read or visual information is available?
- 03What positive behaviour support strategies would be used if my relative became distressed?
- 04How would my relative be supported to take part in activities, local services, voluntary work or daily living tasks?
- 05How are medicines, healthcare appointments and recommendations from health professionals managed for each person?
This planned inspection looked at all five key questions, but inspectors observed only some people and reviewed a sample of care, medicines, staffing and management records. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 January 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, May 2017
Trinity House was rated Good; inspectors found safe, respectful and personalised care, with some staff training still being completed.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 30 March and 5 April 2017. One inspector spoke with people using the service, family members, the registered manager and staff. They reviewed care records, staff files, medicines records, audits and the way people were supported.
The home supported up to seven people with a learning disability, and all seven places were occupied during the inspection. Inspectors found enough staff, suitable recruitment checks, safe medicines arrangements and appropriate health and safety checks.
People received individual care and support. Staff were described as kind and respectful, encouraged independence, supported people's choices and arranged activities based on their interests. Care records were detailed and included people's communication, health, dietary and daily living needs.
The overall rating was Good, with Good ratings for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The home remained Good compared with the previous inspection in February 2015 and met the fundamental standards inspected against.
Enough staff
Inspectors found staffing levels were sufficient to keep people safe and help them access the local community.
“This meant there were sufficient numbers of staff on duty to keep people safe.” from the report
Respect and independence
Staff supported people's privacy, dignity and personal choices. They encouraged people to manage tasks themselves where possible.
“This meant that staff treated people with dignity and respect.” from the report
Activities and community links
People had individual activity plans and used local services and leisure facilities, based on their interests and choices.
“The service had good links with the local community and local organisations.” from the report
Training gaps
minorMost mandatory training was up to date, but some gaps remained. The report says training had been planned to address them.
“The majority of staff mandatory training was up to date and where gaps had been identified, training was planned.” from the report
- 01Which mandatory staff training was incomplete at the inspection, and has it now been completed?
- 02How would staff support my relative's particular communication needs and recognise when they are becoming frustrated?
- 03How would the home support my relative's dietary needs, including any swallowing or malnutrition risks?
- 04What activities and community opportunities would be available that match my relative's interests?
- 05How would my relative and our family be involved in reviews, house meetings and decisions about care?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions; the previous inspection in February 2015 had also rated the service Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 May 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 Trinity House
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2020Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- May 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 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
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47 live-in carers within about an hour of County Durham
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 £960 to £1,210 a week. 42 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in the night.”
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.