CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Tristford
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People told inspectors they felt safe. Staff understood safeguarding, risk management and emergency procedures, and medicines, staffing and infection control were found to be safely managed.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not rated during this inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not rated during this inspection. Inspectors did report that people said staff treated them with dignity and respect.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not rated during this inspection. Inspectors found that people were supported according to their preferences and helped to maintain relationships.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had a shared focus on independence and choice. Leaders gathered feedback, checked quality and had plans to improve some records and care planning.
What inspectors found, August 2022
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, respectful care, with some improvements still needed in staff recruitment and record keeping.
Inspectors made an unannounced visit on 6 July 2022. They spoke with five people and five staff, and reviewed care records, medicines records, recruitment files and management checks.
People told inspectors they felt safe, had choice and were treated with dignity. Staff supported people to stay independent, keep in touch with family and friends, and take part in their community. Medicines, staffing, risk management and infection control were found to be safe.
The home was also judged well-led. Leaders had systems to check quality and respond to feedback. However, inspectors recommended involving people in choosing new staff, and the home had plans to improve accident records, staff record keeping and people's involvement in care plans.
The overall rating was Good, the same as at the previous inspection on 11 April 2019. This visit rated only Safe and Well-led, so it does not provide new ratings for Effective, Caring or Responsive.
Choice and independence
People were supported to make choices, set goals and remain as independent as possible. They could go out, use the garden and manage some activities without staff support.
“People had choice and control over their lives.” from the report
Safe care
Inspectors found enough suitably checked staff, safe medicines systems and clear plans for risks such as falls, choking and epilepsy.
“People's medicines were managed well, and they received their medicines as prescribed.” from the report
Open leadership
Staff felt supported and understood their roles. The provider used feedback and quality checks to identify improvements.
“Systems were in operation to continuously review and improve the quality of the service.” from the report
People's involvement in recruitment
minorThe provider was recommended to involve people in selecting new staff, so people could have more influence over who supports them.
“We would recommend the provider consider recognised guidance to involve people in the selection of new staff.” from the report
Accident and incident records
needs fixingThe home recognised that its system for recording and reviewing accidents and incidents was not as strong as it wanted. Plans were in place to add checks and track times and places more clearly.
“The registered manager and provider had recognised the system they had in place to record and review accidents and incidents was not as robust as they would like.” from the report
Care planning and records
needs fixingA review found that people had not always been formally involved in developing their care plans. The manager also planned further support for staff to improve record keeping.
“A recent review of people's care plans had highlighted people had not been formally involved in developing their care plans and action was planned to address this.” from the report
- 01How are people now involved in selecting new staff?
- 02What changes have been made to accident and incident records, including tracking the time and place of incidents?
- 03How are staff being supported to keep accurate and detailed records?
- 04How do you make sure each person is formally involved in developing and reviewing their care plan?
- 05What progress has been made with the planned wider range of activities and improved training opportunities?
This inspection focused on Safe and Well-led; Effective, Caring and Responsive were not rated and their previous ratings do not appear in this report. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 August 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.
What inspectors found, May 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with people supported to be independent and involved.
This was an unannounced inspection on 11 April 2019. One inspector reviewed care plans, risk assessments, medicines records, complaints, accidents, audits and recruitment records. They also spoke with six people, staff, managers and a provider representative.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, suitable training, clean surroundings and support to access health services.
People were treated with kindness and respect. They were involved in planning their care, supported to make choices and encouraged to take part in activities, friendships, community life and fundraising.
The home had an open management culture and checked the quality of its care. Where checks found shortfalls, the manager used action plans. CQC said it would continue to monitor the home.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw staff treating people kindly and respectfully. Staff understood people's choices and communication styles.
“We observed people being treated with kindness and respect.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were involved in planning their care and encouraged to do more for themselves, including preparing breakfast.
“People were supported to be as independent as possible.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans recorded individual preferences and gave staff step-by-step guidance about daily support.
“Each person had a plan that gave staff step by step instructions on how to support people” from the report
Activities and community life
People took part in activities they enjoyed, went on chosen trips and were encouraged to support charities and community organisations.
“People were supported to take part in activities they enjoyed.” from the report
Strong oversight
Managers carried out checks across the service and used action plans to address identified shortfalls.
“When shortfalls were found, an action plan had been put in place to rectify the issues” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you assess and record my relative's specific needs before they move in?
- 02How would staff support my relative's communication, choices and independence each day?
- 03What training do staff have for my relative's health needs, such as epilepsy, moving and handling or tube feeding?
- 04How are one-to-one support hours protected when other people need care?
- 05How can residents and relatives raise concerns, and how are complaints followed up?
This was a planned, unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions and the care, accommodation and management of the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 May 2019 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 Tristford
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- August 2022Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2019GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2018
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 3 May 2018.
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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39 live-in carers within about an hour of Kent
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. 33 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Always on time and with a lovely smile for my mum. Theresa is kind and sensitive to my mum's needs.”
“Irene was a very kind and empathetic carer who knew just the right words to say to put a smile on my face.”
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.