CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Brickfields Cottage
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks were assessed and managed, staffing levels were sufficient, recruitment checks were completed and medicines were safely stored and managed.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had training, supervision and support. People received help with nutrition, hydration and healthcare, and staff supported people to make decisions as independently as possible.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness, respected their privacy and protected their dignity. Relatives were encouraged to visit and be involved where appropriate.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's needs, preferences and life histories. People were supported with household tasks, community activities and other interests, and relatives said concerns were dealt with appropriately.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The registered manager and provider sought feedback and held regular staff meetings. Audits covered areas such as medicines, fire safety and the environment, and identified shortfalls were acted on promptly.
What inspectors found, December 2017
Turning Point - Brickfields Cottage was rated Good; inspectors found safe, caring and personalised support with effective management.
This was an unannounced, comprehensive inspection on 28 November 2017. One inspector observed the home, spoke with staff, the registered manager and a visiting healthcare professional, and reviewed care, staff and management records. Relatives of four people were contacted afterwards because people living at the home could not share their views directly.
The home supported six people with learning disabilities. Inspectors found suitable risk assessments, enough trained staff, safe medicines arrangements and a clean environment. People were supported with food, drink, healthcare decisions and activities suited to their needs.
Staff were described and observed as kind, respectful and thoughtful. Care plans were personal and regularly reviewed. Relatives were encouraged to give feedback, and the provider had systems to check quality and act on shortfalls.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The overall rating remained Good, as it had been at the previous inspection in January 2017.
Risks managed
The home assessed risks across people's daily lives and put steps in place to reduce them. Inspectors also found enough staff to meet people's needs.
“Risks to people's safety and wellbeing were identified across all aspects of their lives and control measures were in place to reduce these risks.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff were observed comforting people and treating them thoughtfully. Privacy, dignity and personal choices were respected.
“We observed staff interacting with people in a thoughtful and considerate way.” from the report
Personalised support
Care records described people's abilities, preferences and life histories. Staff supported people to take part in activities at home and in the community.
“People's care records contained personalised information about them, such as their preferences and life history.” from the report
Quality checks
The provider used audits to check important areas of the service. The report gives an example of a fire door problem being reported and repaired promptly.
“Where shortfalls were identified, records demonstrated that these were acted upon promptly.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What is the current position of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards applications that were still pending at the inspection?
- 02How do you support each person to make choices if they cannot communicate verbally?
- 03What end of life and bereavement training has been arranged since the inspection?
- 04How are care plans reviewed when a person's needs or preferences change?
- 05How do you check that medicines continue to be administered safely and that stock matches the records?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, and the report says the ratings remained Good from the previous inspection in January 2017. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 December 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 Brickfields Cottage
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2017Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 8 February 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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Hertfordshire
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 £1,300 a week. 82 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“She handled the new situation in front of her with such professionalism and I felt I could trust her 100%.”
“She was v competent and confident and we felt our mum was safe in her care. She supported us through a difficult time.”
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.